The bill amends Montana's education laws to clarify funding and enrollment counts for children participating in early literacy jumpstart programs, particularly when these programs are offered outside of the child's resident district. It establishes that eligible children in these programs will be counted as quarter-time enrollment by the district providing the program for Average Number Belonging (ANB) calculations. Furthermore, it specifies that children from different districts do not need an out-of-district attendance agreement and are exempt from certain tuition laws, thereby facilitating access to early literacy resources.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the superintendent of public instruction regarding the funding and monitoring of early literacy interventions, including the requirement for annual reporting on program efficacy and student progress. It establishes a retroactive applicability date for the provisions related to early literacy jumpstart programs, effective from July 1, 2025, and applies retroactively to programs conducted after the end of the 2025 school calendar year. This legislative effort responds to the Education Interim Committee's request to enhance educational opportunities for young learners and streamline administrative processes associated with their enrollment in these programs.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(1): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(2): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(3): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(4): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(5): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(6): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(7): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(8): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1(9): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_1: 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_X(1): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_X(2): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_X(3): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_X(4): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_X(5): 20-7-1804, 20-9-311
SB0035_X: 20-7-1804, 20-9-311