House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to revise education laws in Montana to better support English learners by establishing state funding for school districts that serve these students. The bill introduces a new funding mechanism that allows public school districts or consortia receiving federal subgrants for programs serving students with limited English proficiency to access state matching funds. Specifically, the Office of Public Instruction will distribute funds based on prior year allocations, with stipulations on how the funds can be used, including developing new language instruction programs and enhancing existing ones. Additionally, the bill provides for professional stipends for highly qualified teachers who hold specific certifications and work with English learners, with the state covering a portion of these stipends.

The bill also includes appropriations of $1 million for the Office of Public Instruction for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the initiatives outlined in the bill, as well as $75,000 for the stipends. Furthermore, it mandates notification to tribal governments and specifies that the new sections will be codified into existing law. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes a termination date of June 30, 2031, for the provisions related to funding and stipends for English learners.