This bill creates a Montana income tax credit for parents, guardians, or teachers paying K-12 education expenses. It allows a credit of up to $1,250 per year, covering costs like tuition, textbooks, online learning programs, tutoring, therapies, and school supplies. The credit can be claimed even without taxable income, with any excess refunded. It applies to expenses paid for children in public schools, accredited private schools, non-accredited tutors (with written disclosure), or compliant homeschools. The bill aims to help offset rising K-12 education costs for families and educators.
This bill changes Montana's special education terminology by allowing "emotional disability" to replace "emotional disturbance" in state law and regulations, aligning with the federal definition (34 CFR 300.8(c)(4)). It provides $100 from the general fund to the Office of Public Instruction to update publications about special education services by July 1, 2025. The change affects how schools document and provide services for students with emotional needs under Montana's special education framework.
This joint resolution honors Montana's 9,106 educational support professionals - such as paraprofessionals, secretaries, IT staff, and special-needs assistants - who work in public schools. It designates April 3, 2025, as "Educational Support Professionals Day" to recognize their daily contributions to student safety, learning, and school operations. The resolution celebrates their role in supporting all students, including those with disabilities, and acknowledges their vital impact on Montana's educational environment. It is a ceremonial recognition with no new policy or funding changes.
This non-binding resolution encourages Montana school districts to provide cursive writing instruction to students, starting at a developmentally appropriate age and continuing through their education. It does not mandate or fund cursive instruction but urges schools to include it so students can read historical documents (like the Declaration of Independence), sign documents, and benefit from cognitive development linked to learning cursive. The resolution directs Montana's Secretary of State to send copies to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Board of Public Education, and all public school boards. It directly affects Montana's public school districts and their curriculum decisions.
This bill creates a $250 annual tax credit for Montana parents or legal guardians of children attending nonpublic schools. It directly affects families with children aged 5-19 enrolled in qualifying nonpublic schools (as defined in Montana law). The credit, which cannot exceed a taxpayer's income tax liability, may be carried forward up to three years if not fully used in the current tax year. The bill also adds this new credit to Montana's scheduled tax credit review process, requiring its evaluation every eight years starting in 2025.
This bill creates a $10 million grant program to help Montana child care facilities and school districts build or expand early childhood education centers. It provides one-time funding for construction, renovation, equipment, and facility upgrades, requiring grantees to match grant funds with private contributions (at least $1 for every $1 received). The program prioritizes rural areas and locations with high unmet child care demand, as highlighted in the bill’s context. Grants are limited to capital expenses and must align with safety standards, with administrative costs capped at 20% of the total appropriation.
This joint resolution requests an interim study to examine ways to improve early literacy and numeracy skills in Montana children. It directs the Legislative Council to form a committee that will collaborate with schools, educators, parents, early childhood providers, and national experts to assess evidence-based teaching methods, program effectiveness, and data systems. The study must conclude by September 15, 2026, and report findings to the 70th Legislature, including recommendations for potential policy changes. This resolution does not enact new laws but directs a review of existing approaches to support young learners.
Bill LC 4031 proposed revisions to the existing system for teachers to utilize paid time off for continuing education credits. It aimed to update both the procedures for taking such leave and the reimbursement mechanisms associated with it. The bill sought to modify how educators access and are compensated for time spent on professional development and obtaining further certifications.
Montana's LC 1521, "Alyssa's Law," requires all public school districts to implement mobile panic alert systems by July 1, 2027. These systems must connect to emergency call centers, provide real-time location and floor plans to responders during emergencies, and integrate with school personnel for updates. School staff must receive annual training on the system, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction will approve a list of compliant systems meeting specific technical standards. The bill also amends existing law to allow school districts to use safety funds for these systems, including costs for installation and training.
This bill (LC 902) proposed expanding education savings accounts to cover all students in the state, rather than limiting them to specific groups like low-income or special needs students. It would have allowed families to use public funds through these accounts for private school tuition, tutoring, or educational materials. The key mechanism involved revising existing laws to remove eligibility restrictions and broaden access statewide. However, the bill died in the legislative process in May 2025 and never became law, so no policy changes were implemented.
