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Committee recommends matching state funding and teacher stipends for English learners
Summary
The Committee of the Whole recommended House Bill 361 do pass after amendments reducing direct state funding and adding teacher stipends for English learner (ELL) instruction; the bill was later rereferred to Appropriations for fiscal review.
House Bill 361, introduced by Representative Keogh, received a committee recommendation to pass after changes that reduced the proposed direct state funding and added a professional stipend for teachers who obtain an English‑as‑a‑second‑language certification. Keogh said the bill establishes matching state funding to school districts serving English learners and provides stipends modeled after national board certification for teachers who are certified to teach ELL students.
“English language learners in our state often do not meet critical benchmarks, like reading at grade 3, which ultimately impacts their ability to graduate,” Representative Keogh said, citing statewide counts and federal Title III funding levels. The sponsor noted that Montana had 4,450 identified ELL students in 2023–24, up from roughly 3,600 earlier in the decade, and that Montana is one of two states that does not provide direct state funding for identified ELL students.
Supporters, including Representative Kiel and Representative Rex Rexton, said the bill addresses teacher capacity in districts with small numbers of ELL students spread across grades. Opponents in committee raised concerns about potential unintended consequences and whether the funding could lead to program limits; Representative Deming said those concerns contributed to his opposition in committee.
The committee recorded a final recommendation vote of 57 ayes and 42 noes and House Bill 361 passed second reading in committee. Later on the floor Majority Leader Fitzpatrick moved to rerefer House Bill 361 to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review; that motion was entered without objection.
Discussion: Debate focused on funding levels, the need for certified teachers, and whether the program would close achievement gaps. The bill reduces direct funding from earlier drafts and places emphasis on teacher training and stipends for certified teachers.
