This bill allows high school students in grades 11 and 12 to earn elective credits toward graduation by working at long-term care, nursing home, home care, or child care facilities. Students can earn one credit for every 250 hours worked, with a maximum of two credits allowed. Schools must create application forms to verify work hours and may set specific conditions on the types of tasks students perform. The program applies to both public and private schools and takes effect on July 1, 2025.
This bill amends Montana's Military Higher Education Act to clarify definitions of military service terms and strengthen protections for reservists and National Guard members attending college. It requires faculty to provide eligible students at least 15 business days to complete missed coursework when they miss assignments due to inactive duty training or annual training. The legislation also mandates that students returning from active duty within 12 months be readmitted with their previous academic standing, provided they request it. These changes directly affect students in Montana's reserve components and National Guard who need to balance military obligations with higher education requirements.
This bill amends Montana's school funding law to allow state financial support for preschool children with disabilities by including them in the Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations used to determine school district funding. Previously, only preschool programs created at the discretion of school trustees were excluded from these calculations, which meant children with disabilities receiving mandatory special education services had no mechanism for state funding. The key provision adds a new clause to the existing statute that permits counting preschool children with disabilities in ANB based on their aggregate hours of pupil instruction, aligning their eligibility with other special education students. This change directly affects school districts by creating a funding pathway for the special education programs they are already required to provide for three- and four-year-old children with disabilities.
This bill creates a statewide program in Montana that pairs new teachers with retired educators from the same school district to provide guidance and support. School districts can choose to participate on a case-by-case basis, allowing retired teachers to offer assistance such as classroom observation feedback, administrative help, and orientation to district policies for up to 36 hours over a three-month period. The program authorizes districts to compensate retired teachers on an hourly basis using a rate derived from the district's base pay, with state funding of $100,000 annually available to reimburse districts for these mentoring hours.
This bill allows Montana school districts to increase their voter-approved property tax levies without holding a new election, provided the increase matches the inflation adjustments applied to state funding. It amends existing school funding laws to ensure that when the legislature raises state aid for inflation, school boards can automatically adjust their local tax levies by the same amount without requiring another vote from taxpayers. The measure also requires districts to offset any new over-BASE tax increases by reducing other nonvoted property tax levies by an equal amount, maintaining overall tax neutrality. These changes apply to school districts across Montana and take effect immediately upon becoming law.
This bill requires student scholarship organizations in Montana to obtain annual certification from the Department of Revenue before accepting tax-credit donations. The law establishes specific financial requirements, mandating that at least 90% of donation revenue be used for scholarships and that funds be distributed within three years. Organizations must also ensure scholarships remain available to any qualified education provider without restriction. The Department of Revenue must review applications within 60 days and may deny certification if requirements are not met, with a 30-day window for organizations to correct issues before a final denial. These changes aim to increase transparency and accountability for organizations managing education tax credits and scholarships.
This bill expands Montana's Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program to include all newly hired quality educators in public schools, with priority given to those working in schools facing educator shortages. Under the new rules, eligible teachers can receive up to three years of state-funded loan repayment assistance, with amounts increasing from $3,000 in the first year to $5,000 by the third year, plus an additional year potentially funded by their school or district. If available funds are insufficient to cover all applicants, the state superintendent will prorate payments, prioritizing educators in impacted schools before distributing remaining funds to others. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025, and apply to applications submitted on or after that date.
This bill modifies Montana's transformational learning grant program by ending the current grant after 2025 and creating a new Phase II grant program for school districts. Under the new system, eligible districts must submit detailed applications outlining their plans for personalized, student-centered learning that includes community-based and work-based opportunities. The bill requires districts to demonstrate how they will provide professional development for educators and ensure equal access for all students while maintaining proficiency-based learning standards. The Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction and Board of Public Education will administer the program, with funding distributed through an annual lottery system if applications exceed available funds.
This bill expands Montana's Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship Program to include child-care workers employed at licensed day-care centers or registered family or group day-care homes. Under the new provisions, eligible child-care workers would receive scholarships without needing to meet the income eligibility requirements that currently apply to families seeking care for their children. The legislation appropriates $5.5 million annually from the general fund to support these scholarships starting July 1, 2025, and amends existing state code sections to establish the eligibility criteria for child-care workers.
This bill requires school districts in Montana to provide written notice to their board of trustees when they reduce teaching staff due to insufficient funding. The superintendent or principal must submit this notice, which the board must then place on the agenda for their next meeting and allow time for public comment. The law does not apply to situations where a teacher's contract is not renewed for reasons other than funding shortages. It takes effect on July 1, 2025.
