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Committee hears proposal to move transformational learning grants into development phase with targeted funding
Summary
House Bill 573 would end the current transformational learning grant program at the end of FY2026 and create a Phase 2 that selects up to five districts for development funding; sponsor David Beattie told the committee the goal is to create exportable proficiency‑based models, and proponents from OPI, school districts and contractors urged support.
Helena — Representative David Beattie opened the hearing on House Bill 573, telling the committee the transformational learning grant program established in 2019 distributed more than $11 million to districts from fiscal years 2020 through 2025 and that HB 573 intends to move promising experiments in proficiency‑based learning from concept to development.
Beattie summarized the bill’s three main elements: terminating the current grant program at the end of FY2026; directing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to select districts to advance to a Phase 2 development grant program; and providing FY2027 funding to those selected districts to continue building proficiency‑based programs. He said Phase 2 is set to end in 2028, with the objective of producing models that school districts can adopt at local discretion.
Proponents told the committee they support scaling high‑quality, competency‑based approaches. David Smith of the Montana Contractors Association said industry partners have seen workforce benefits from work‑based learning partnerships and encouraged continued investment. Katie Bloodgood, legislative liaison for the Office of Public Instruction, said HB 573 ‘‘builds upon our commitment to student‑centered learning’’ and emphasized support for expanding successful districts’ capacity and sharing best practices. Matt Jensen, Kalispell Public Schools superintendent, described local implementation examples and the program’s professional learning supports.
Members asked technical and implementation questions, including how many districts remain funded under the current program (Bloodgood said 23 districts are funded for FY2026 and there is a wait list) and how the Phase 2 selection and funding would operate; Beattie and proponents said the superintendent would make selections and the bill contemplates approximately $2.5 million available over a two‑year period (FY2027–FY2028) to fund exemplars, contingent on appropriation.
Next steps: The hearing closed with the sponsor urging the committee’s support and standing ready for questions.
