This bill aims to enhance the education of American Indian children in Montana by establishing a collaborative framework for creating state-tribal education accords and state-tribal education accord schools. The Board of Public Education is tasked with exploring this initiative in partnership with federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations. The exploration will focus on how these accords can improve educational outcomes for American Indian children, support the preservation of their cultural integrity, and promote self-determination for tribal nations. The bill outlines a timeline for the exploration, requiring tribes to submit resolutions by September 30, 2023, and mandates the Board to report its findings and recommendations by September 1, 2024.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for notifying tribal governments about the act and specifies that it will take effect upon passage and approval, with a termination date set for June 30, 2025. The framework developed by the Board must address key aspects such as governance, funding, and accountability metrics for the proposed accord schools. Importantly, any state-tribal education accord for operating these schools can only be enacted following the passage of a related bill by July 1, 2025.