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Committee approves study of early literacy and numeracy (HJR 63)
Summary
Lawmakers advanced House Joint Resolution 63 to study early literacy and numeracy, including the 'science of reading' and implementation across districts and universities. Sponsor Representative Romano said the study aims to identify which policies and instructional strategies are working.
Representative Romano told the Senate Education Committee House Joint Resolution 63 would study early literacy and the newly added early numeracy efforts in Montana, including implementation of the science of reading and district- and state-level instructional strategies.
"The bill really seeks to study best practices, what's working, what's not working," Romano said, citing other states’ experience and referencing Alabama’s improved NAEP scores as an example of a statewide approach that correlated with gains.
Senator Vinton asked whether studying the issue was redundant after passage of recent early-literacy and numeracy bills; Romano replied the study is focused on implementation differences across districts, university involvement and whether specific policies and curricula are effective. She said the study language on page 2 calls for district leaders and state policymakers to examine policy effectiveness.
There were no proponents or opponents in the committee room beyond the sponsor; the committee moved HJR 63 and advanced it by voice vote. The record notes Senators Mandeville and Beard were recorded as voting 'no' on the measure.
The sponsor framed the resolution as an information-gathering exercise to guide future policy choices rather than as immediate rulemaking.
