[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6622406,"mediaKeyId","2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4","parentId",2784525,"title","Bill would fund short-term retired‑teacher mentoring to help new teachers become classroom‑ready","audioSeconds",848,"startMs",5754000,"endMs",6602000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4&start=5754&end=6602","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4/thumbnail_5754000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622406/Montana/Bill-would-fund-short-term-retiredteacher-mentoring-to-help-new-teachers-become-classroomready","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622406-1473a8690c59248be2b7901979749a84/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201321&Signature=asrBXl5vTgcHDY8nK3Gmw7lRJEHUy9qb7vzdyC3Qe4HU-b7~9~ielcHl4knFfrjUhxHBoF4OlPIbEz85B4xD-I8uGPBH4Z9lXHAF5GdmuLIORI7vir4pzZoln8vIPj6tuvyvp8AyRcFfQgkhQqBn6zPgKLBconPAiwqEULzvjTZ8aZEO-W~EtP50OFRnWseXIzvgsAE7kW7ItKOjtImaS84gWLn8b6nXOt~T6cAHc9w1ox~SKpm-R0N8pJovgMVWaN10FphGIt6mYOwwJZ-N2ln9VLnY-FRLQr-357Mdmgv3Rf8zxSx3a1LKxH1xv1DP-xD112360N4rZuMMnm4OBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montana Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 837, sponsored by Representative Eiseley, would establish a retired‑teacher induction program that pairs retired instructors with newly hired teachers for a short, intensive mentoring period at the start of their first school year.

Under the bill as presented, an induction mentor's work would be limited to 36 hours over the first three months of the school year; compensation for mentors would be funded via a state appropriation of $100,000 from the general fund for each year of the biennium. Eiseley said the program is intended as a “Monday-morning ready” crash induction, not a full mentoring program, focusing on practical, hands-on classroom and program management help — for example, lab equipment, inventory management, vendor relationships and curriculum materials for hands-on classes such as science, art, music or career-and-technical-education courses.

Supporters included Kim Popham of the Montana Federation of Public Employees and Rob Watson representing school administrators and the Coalition of Advocates for Montana's Public Schools. Witnesses told the committee that targeted short-term mentoring can improve teacher retention, especially in rural districts, and is a fiscally modest intervention: sponsors and witnesses estimated the appropriation could support roughly 100 mentor placements depending on local compensation arrangements and the degree to which mentors use the full 36 hours.

Committee members asked how many mentor hours the appropriation would buy and about the benefits of retired‑teacher mentors. The sponsor said per‑district implementation would vary, and mentors might not use the full 36 hours in every case. She described personal experience mentoring a successor and said even brief, early support can keep new teachers in the classroom. The bill does not require districts to participate; supporters described it as locally controlled and designed to align with collective bargaining arrangements where applicable.

The committee closed the hearing; no committee vote was recorded in the transcript. Proponents asked the committee to advance the bill to help with teacher recruitment and retention.

Provenance: sponsor opening at s=5754.67 and hearing close noted at s=6502.96 in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education - Mar 26, 2025 15:00 - 18:00","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 837 would create a short induction program that pays retired teachers to mentor newly hired teachers for up to 36 hours during their first three months on the job, with a $100,000 per‑year appropriation proposed to the Office of Public Instruction.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MT, Montana","taxId",77694,"location","Montana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622411,"Committee hears bill to broaden Montana Indian Language Preservation Program and partnerships",1131,4577000,5708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4&start=4577&end=5708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4/thumbnail_4577000.jpg","/articles/6622411/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-broaden-Montana-Indian-Language-Preservation-Program-and-partnerships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622411-04bb749f4ffe073537aceb6307b6f2fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201321&Signature=ngogv~13UNc1aZRNUuRoi7ppszTUCiDhLLRmilOjQvBUG3Ci7rq3XYSfrhAUMDpSmG2FoJiQ04-lFk63iLCwEag8P~FpZVA~u35IrN4eRuC8Y-c06MDs8Yg3~4h45g4jEH63WoKj9ZHp9PpMb~CLI8u9RC1mM3VOM4p9Yhv8ze12HTgDSL275t9pXJcO~IGDQiZ7SI12tr1s9Ufu6MO7ssz-12p0iWNkWELPe12iY9ds3N7VztKinDpmFSphzkRggs7CJVEl54fjXWgu09yNmzgT46WzJNN~fWW58K2-wS1ByneNGOu9FPzKv5C3kZSDYLHgXLgpIbXo3a10UPKe-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee heard testimony supporting Senate Bill 182, which would expand and clarify administration and partnering for Montana’s Indian Language Preservation Program and encourage collaborative professional development and use of existing tribal language materials.

Sponsor testimony and proponents from tribal nations, early‑childhood advocates, the Montana Historical Society and statewide education organizations described the bill as a measure to preserve tribal languages, increase opportunities for immersion and broaden which educational entities may partner with tribes — including public schools, tribal schools, tribal early‑learning programs and postsecondary institutions.

Supporters said the bill encourages integration between the language preservation program and local immersion programs, provides flexibility for tribal governments to partner with a range of educational entities, and promotes professional development using materials already produced and archived at the Montana Historical Society. Witnesses described successful uses of past language funds for curriculum materials, apps, signage and oral-history projects and said revitalization work supports student identity, academic outcomes and community well‑being.

Advocates including the Montana Budget and Policy Center and the Coalition of Advocates for Montana’s Public Schools asked the committee to advance the bill. Testimony highlighted that several Montana tribal languages are critically endangered and urged lawmakers to support flexible implementation and sustained funding. The committee closed testimony and sponsors signaled they will work with stakeholders on implementation details; no committee vote was recorded during the hearing.

Provenance: hearing begins with SB182 opening at s=4577.39 and closes at s=5716.51 in the committee transcript.","Senate Bill 182 would expand partnerships and professional development for Montana’s Indian Language Preservation Program; tribal speakers and education advocates urged passage, saying language revitalization supports identity and student outcomes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":80,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622415,"Committee hears bill to strengthen Indian Education for All accountability and tribal consultation",2334,2243000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4&start=2243&end=4577","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4/thumbnail_2243000.jpg","/articles/6622415/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-strengthen-Indian-Education-for-All-accountability-and-tribal-consultation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622415-25e027599c6d182d244dc2cdfc29c936/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201321&Signature=Bbmkxe6y6vDf5Oagqn9alfwqj2kcybgR3bYWl0-tx0doMXsjIQkaB2exEKTKIfepJCMdJWiaPTDljjscJQgZ0hPw7r8S47IQvLUYyRpCdcvoiMGH4qVxxjip8L8lGeEkjFETxe~EMuWpD-acCvVDCC6w9cStWVnIi4ifcFqOhetrXxhAFbH6N6~E7xugWaqNikhNObw0HRswKCx41Y5QtnsRJNQhkigNMu9-5tnFBMJWNtZasZdgfjnkY6dfU1Mc~D0wZeJO44PK75ojGSacVeH5U36iXX-ROlV3ud~wH9Ak-fo3E1OPGLa~4XkZ987w3qOdOE0M1Iagg43hmTDXzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee took testimony on Senate Bill 181, which sponsors described as a revision to Montana’s Indian Education for All (IEFA) law to strengthen tribal consultation, increase transparency and require improved accountability for how IEFA funds are spent.

Senator Jonathan Windyboy opened the hearing and said the bill is intended to address inconsistent implementation and reporting by school districts. Testimony in support came from a broad array of tribal nations, education advocates and civil‑liberties groups. Western Native Voices, representatives of the Blackfeet and Fort Belknap communities, the ACLU of Montana and the Coalition of Advocates for Montana’s Public Schools all testified in favor, saying the bill would reinforce the state’s obligation under Article X, Section 2 of the Montana Constitution to preserve American Indian cultural integrity and ensure funding is used for IEFA purposes.

Proponents urged two specific amendments during testimony: (1) clarifying language so that required professional development is encouraged across educational personnel (rather than solely a Board of Public Education mandate) to avoid conflict with ongoing settlement work, and (2) adding a funding floor so small districts receive a meaningful baseline payment (proposal: IEFA payments equal district a-and-b calculation or a minimum of $5,000, whichever is greater). Several speakers noted that many small districts currently receive only modest yearly IEFA payments and that a basic amount would help fund professional development.

Office of Public Instruction and Board of Public Education officials testified they support stronger implementation and described existing reporting improvements. The OPI deputy superintendent said the agency is committed to supporting the bill; OPI staff explained that IEFA spending is tied to the accreditation process and trustee financial surveys and that unspent IEFA dollars can reduce future allocations if not used appropriately.

Multiple tribal and statewide organizations emphasized that the bill would increase public visibility of how IEFA funds are spent and create a portal for reporting and tribal input. Stakeholders asked the committee to consider the two proposed technical amendments and discussed the fiscal impacts described in the committee fiscal note.

The committee recorded questions from members about enforcement and the level of OPI oversight; OPI and Board of Public Education staff explained how current accreditation reporting and financial surveys are expected to provide evidence of spending and allow adjustments in allocations. The hearing closed with sponsors noting interest in working with stakeholders on amendments; no committee vote was recorded in the hearing.

Provenance: hearing testimony begins at s=2243.59 (sponsor opening) and continues through committee Q&A ending at s=4577.28 in the transcript.","Senate Bill 181 would increase tribal consultation, require publication of implementation details, and add reporting/oversight to the Indian Education for All program; proponents from tribal nations, civil liberties groups and education organizations urged passage with suggested amendments to funding language.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622420,"Committee hears bill to shift tax-based payments to serve isolated Big Sky students attending local schools",1405,819000,2224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4&start=819&end=2224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4/thumbnail_819000.jpg","/articles/6622420/Montana/Committee-hears-bill-to-shift-tax-based-payments-to-serve-isolated-Big-Sky-students-attending-local-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622420-c3d019b12918bf9da4886b80eaa7d35e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201321&Signature=VcVefe4R5Fjw1wOqlpoXNFqWGQ-AkESEITgp54ZupKrC7HcgOrkbXkDD8UqBwkEtn~hRJswTmhkYUPia0vMoQl0S9Wx~vGyy48ZfV53vs244yGegvfMgKRjOOqjSzOvXNmxdvuLnL0m6YGDnhhLj7rXIKBMTC1Qud3Af2w217YMwaUHpwo0WU0UfYlfAJfFkISGgU3mHXtGM4UcCmohRqwVeB8YRRFk76MH1vHyrN6rfW~rqb9jWpz1RsXLYRDHf29350vW9sVQsyQtYhZ-OKb6vE2f64LsunrdAH761OaQ8lFdC~FWpf92AwUa1qF~0okL1Repzu7OL4TYCBPRwyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montana House Education Committee heard testimony on House Bill 846, a bill aimed at directing tax-based reconciliation payments when pupils living in one district cannot reasonably access their resident schools and instead attend a nearby nonresident district.

Sponsor and proponents described a narrow, largely geographic situation affecting families in the Big Sky area who live in Madison County but are closer to and attend schools in the Big Sky School District (which spans Gallatin and Madison counties). Lance Melton of the Montana School Boards Association, testifying for a coalition of advocates, said the bill addresses “a very unique situation” in which pupils living in a high-taxable-value jurisdiction attend schools in a lower-taxable-value district because distance or travel time makes the resident school unreachable by a standard bus route.

Proponents said the bill would create a petition process to the county superintendent to designate “isolated pupils” eligible for a reconciliation payment. Under the bill as presented, the reconciliation payment equals the revenue that would be raised if the receiving district’s operational mills were applied proportionally to the taxable value where the pupils reside; proponents estimated the payment for the Big Sky example at roughly $440,000 and described an illustrative levy increase of about 1.3 to 1.4 mills in the resident district to effect the payment.

Testimony from Jackie Haines of the Big Sky Resort Area District emphasized the local context: Big Sky generates a disproportionate share of taxable value and tourism-driven economic activity while some residents’ taxes flow to Ennis (the resident district) even though their children attend Big Sky schools. Haines said 26 students who live in the Madison County portion of Big Sky attend Big Sky schools and that “parents’ tax dollars go to Ennis and only pennies make it back to support their children’s education.”

The bill would require a petition be filed no later than June 1, trigger a county superintendent inquiry and provide a truncated administrative appeal to district court with summary proceedings. Sponsors said the statute uses existing criteria, including a 60‑minute bus-time threshold under normal weather conditions via the shortest publicly maintained route, and a taxable-value test (resident district with taxable value more than 2.5 times the serving district and in excess of $100 million) to constrain the remedy to narrow circumstances.

The bill also creates an advisory council made up of community members from the landlocked area to work with the receiving district in an advisory (nonadministrative) capacity. Proponents said the receiving district would place reconciliation funds into its flexibility fund for local priorities such as housing or building repairs. The bill includes a reverse-reconciliation provision: if territory is later transferred between districts, the last reconciliation payment made by the resident district would be reversed and paid back to the resident district for three years.

Proponents from both Big Sky and Ennis reported reaching consensus on the bill’s approach after negotiation. The committee did not record a committee vote on the measure during the hearing; sponsors indicated willingness to answer committee questions and to work through technical drafting.

Provenance: committee testimony beginning with Lance Melton at s=819.36 and closing remarks on HB 8 46 at s=2224.30 in the committee transcript.","House Bill 846 would require a resident district to levy a reconciliation payment to the nonresident district educating isolated pupils; the proposal drew statements from Big Sky and Ennis representatives and school associations describing geography, taxable value disparities and a petition process.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6622425,"House Education committee moves two school funding bills forward; one passes on committee vote",160,460000,620000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4&start=460&end=620","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2784525-726feda83c763026466b9d1f1fa9aec4/thumbnail_460000.jpg","/articles/6622425/Montana/House-Education-committee-moves-two-school-funding-bills-forward-one-passes-on-committee-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622425-0549465c8b6181b7eafbad25f8275463/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201321&Signature=TvXm2TwGIk-htwJyyVwDHYLp60-rukTYJu21pnb4Wi3OAQMz~ls7OKJn3ZSkxeDCTUMwzjVb~mFyUbn5hXRJjk7M0GcSk5yrwWIvb2rKh3FiMHlae2-xEGEfjadmfQE-CT1tjcmLHj49sVVoSl-~clhiroMRKbsNxt53Ihs2ryo5ui03fVEIvhW6cmPJy0ju9ueJIK~2JS59CDYqsq9KhnDVQyVV7mTgPdUKJZ~M4i-RJv4omu5Th78CvpR1o67QkRdSw4VNpKYnpUUTK9~3K9yv8lL8xOoT4PVlhxsGqynmFOClZAePpHGC6zYUpLrE25BPy~xX3dRguwWnOTP2Cg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montana House Education Committee on a hybrid hearing took executive action on two education funding measures, concurring in Senate Bill 37 and advancing House Bill 551 by roll-call. Committee members said the bills are technical fixes and implementation steps tied to prior appropriations.

Senate Bill 37, described to the committee as clarifying that calculations for “significant enrollment increases” are made at the budget-unit level, was opened for executive action and moved to the floor with concurrence. Vice Chair Romano moved the motion to concur. The committee registered a mix of in-room and proxy aye votes; committee leadership said the measure “passes” and that a member will carry it to the House floor.

House Bill 551, sponsored by Vice Chair Romano, is described in committee as “an act to establish a state program to provide replacement funding for school districts.” Committee staff told members the policy statement is intended to match appropriations already provided in House Bill 2; Romano said she believes HB 2 included roughly $300,000 per year for the relevant biennium and that she coordinated bill language with the House Appropriations chair.

Representative Thain asked whether the appropriation was already made and whether a policy statement was needed to align with that appropriation; Romano and staff confirmed that appropriations had been made and that the bill creates the policy framework and may require reconciliation of amounts. The committee took a roll-call vote on HB 551. The clerk recorded individual votes and proxies; the chair announced a final committee vote of 12 in favor and 3 opposed. Committee staff said HB 551 will go to the House floor.

Votes at a glance
- Senate Bill 37 — Action: Committee concurred (moved by Vice Chair Romano). Outcome: passed executive action; committee to carry to floor. (Executive action opened at committee transcript block starting s=352.46 and closed s=456.07.)
- House Bill 551 — Action: Do pass (sponsor: Vice Chair Romano). Outcome: advanced by roll-call vote, 12–3 in committee (roll-call recorded in committee transcript; executive action closed s=620.03).

Details and provenance
- The committee heard staff and sponsor descriptions of both bills; staff summarized Senate Bill 37 as a calculation-level clarification and described HB 551 as establishing a replacement-funding program to align with prior appropriations. (Transcript evidence: SB37 executive action beginning at s=352.46; HB551 executive action beginning at s=458.13.)

No formal amendments were recorded in committee minutes for either measure during executive action.

What happens next
- Both measures were reported out of the House Education Committee for further consideration. Committee members indicated the measures will be placed on the House floor calendar for next steps.

(Reporting is based solely on the committee transcript. Where the transcript uses shorthand (for example, “HB 8 37” or “HB 5 5 1”), this article uses the identifiers as spoken in committee.)","The Montana House Education Committee took executive action on Senate Bill 37 and on House Bill 551. The committee concurred in Senate Bill 37 and voted 12–3 to advance House Bill 551, a replacement-funding policy for districts reimbursing isolated pupils.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would fund short-term retired‑teacher mentoring to help new teachers become classroom‑ready

Committee hears bill to broaden Montana Indian Language Preservation Program and partnerships

Committee hears bill to strengthen Indian Education for All accountability and tribal consultation

Committee hears bill to shift tax-based payments to serve isolated Big Sky students attending local schools

House Education committee moves two school funding bills forward; one passes on committee vote