The bill amends Montana's education laws to enhance clarity regarding kindergarten programs and enrollment processes. Key changes include the establishment of minimum aggregate hour requirements for kindergarten, mandating that programs meet at least half-time standards as outlined in Section 20-1-301. The definition of a kindergarten program is revised to eliminate the distinction between half-time and full-time designations, allowing parents to enroll their children in half-time programs even when full-time options are available. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to provide comprehensive information on educational opportunities to families, aligning with the intent of personalized learning.

Further amendments address the calculation of Average Number Belonging (ANB) for funding, allowing for the inclusion of students in programs with fewer hours if they demonstrate proficiency. The bill also updates terminology from "average number belonging" to "ANB" for consistency and clarifies the responsibilities of county superintendents in estimating ANB and processing enrollment applications. It outlines conditions for increasing a school district's ANB, such as school openings or closures, and specifies eligibility criteria for students to be counted in ANB calculations. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, for school fiscal years beginning on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1(1): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1(2): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1(3): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1(4): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1(5): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1(6): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_1: 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_2: 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(1): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(10): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(11): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(12): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(2): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(3): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(4): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(5): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(6): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(7): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(8): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X(9): 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313
HB0024_X: 20-1-301, 20-3-205, 20-3-326, 20-7-117, 20-9-311, 20-9-313