MT HB628

Expands Montana's early literacy intervention program to include math proficiency alongside reading, renaming it "early scholastic literacy" to cover English language arts, literacy, mathematics, and numeracy

Allows school districts to opt in to enrolling "on-target" students (those already meeting proficiency benchmarks) in classroom-based or jumpstart intervention programs at a ratio of one on-target student per five eligible students

Permits on-target students enrolled in intervention programs to be counted for Average Number Belonging (ANB) funding calculations

Extends the evaluation window from April-June to no sooner than 5 months prior to enrollment, and requires the Board of Public Education to select at least one evaluation methodology for both reading and math proficiency

Takes effect immediately upon passage and applies to students enrolled in early scholastic literacy intervention programs on or after May 1, 2025