Committee hears testimony on bill to expand early‑literacy classrooms, fund retrofits and let districts partner with community providers

Representative Becky Edwards, sponsor of House Bill 654, told the House Education Committee on Oct. 12 that the bill expands the early‑literacy work enacted in 2023 and targets barriers faced by rural districts and families. “This is a bill that takes the hard work that legislators achieved in the 2023 session towards more classroom based early school, early literacy intervention for Montana 4 year olds and expands it to address concerns from especially our rural communities like limited space, staffing shortages, and start up costs,” Edwards said.

The bill would (1) clarify that school districts may contract with community‑based providers to administer early‑literacy classroom programs, (2) allow districts to receive A&B funding in the first year when expanding early‑literacy classrooms, and (3) create an Early Literacy Intervention Boost Grant Program that provides a one‑time grant to retrofit classrooms and buy supplies. Proponents…