“Amidst strong evidence for academic success, Montana remains one of just four U.S. states that does not provide a public early education option for families with young children. Fortunately, during the 2023 legislative session HB 352 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, allowing schools to offer new targeted early literacy interventions aimed at improving third grade reading scores.
Right now, only 46% of Montana’s kids in school are reading at or above grade-level. I’ll repeat that — less than half of our state’s students are meeting a vital benchmark.”