Montana SB278: Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities

What the bill says

An act revising education laws related to advanced opportunities; establishing advanced opportunity facilitators and defining the term; allowing a school district employing an advanced opportunity facilitator to utilize a portion of its advanced opportunity aid in paying the facilitator and receive a quality educator payment for the advanced opportunity facilitator; amending sections 20-7-1503, 20-71506, and 20-9-327, mca; and providing effective dates.

From the engrossed text:

AN ACT REVISING EDUCATION LAWS RELATED TO ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES; ESTABLISHING ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY FACILITATORS AND DEFINING THE TERM; ALLOWING A SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYING AN ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY FACILITATOR TO UTILIZE A PORTION OF ITS ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY AID IN PAYING THE FACILITATOR AND RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATOR PAYMENT FOR THE ADVANCED OPPORTUNITY FACILITATOR; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-7-1503, 20-71506, AND 20-9-327, MCA; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES. Section 1. Section 20-7-1503, MCA, is amended to read: "20-7-1503. Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply: (1) "Advanced opportunity" means any course, exam, or experiential, online, or other learning opportunity that is incorporated in a district's advanced opportunity plan and that is designed to advance each qualifying pupil's opportunity for postsecondary career and educational success. (2) "Advanced opportunity aid" means, for each fiscal year: (a) for an elementary district, 4.5% of the district's total quality educator payment defined in 20-9306 in the prior year; (b) for a high school district, 30% of the district's total quality educator payment defined in 20-9306 in the prior year; and (c) for a K-12 district, 18% of the district's total quality educator payment defined in 20-9-306 in the prior year. (3) "Advanced opportunity facilitator" means an individual employed by a school district who coordinates between the school district, a qualifying pupil and the pupil's family, postsecondary institutions, employers, industry …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Novak, Sara (D, 36) · primary sponsor
• Tilleman, Eric (R, 23)

Latest actions

1. May 13, 2025: Chapter Number Assigned
2. May 13, 2025: (S) Signed by Governor
3. May 5, 2025: (S) Transmitted to Governor
4. May 5, 2025: (H) Signed by Speaker
5. April 29, 2025: (S) Signed by President
6. April 20, 2025: (S) Returned from Enrolling
7. April 17, 2025: (S) Sent to Enrolling
8. April 17, 2025: (S) 3rd Reading House Amendments
9. April 17, 2025: (S) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
10. April 16, 2025: (S) 2nd Reading House Amendments

Votes

• Do Pass (April 17, 2025): 36 yea, 14 nay, passed
• Do Pass (April 16, 2025): 46 yea, 4 nay, passed
• Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 69 yea, 30 nay, passed
• Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 75 yea, 24 nay, passed
• Do Pass (March 4, 2025): 38 yea, 12 nay, passed
• Do Pass (February 28, 2025): 38 yea, 10 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB278?

SB278 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise education laws to support advanced opportunities.

What does SB278 do?

In its own words: An act revising education laws related to advanced opportunities; establishing advanced opportunity facilitators and defining the term; allowing a school district employing an advanced opportunity facilitator to utilize a portion of its advanced opportunity aid in paying the facilitator and receive a quality educator payment for the advanced opportunity facilitator; amending sections 20-7-1503, 20-71506, and 20-9-327, mca; and providing effective dates.

What is the status of SB278?

Signed into law as of May 13, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 13, 2025).

Who sponsored SB278?

Novak, Sara (D, 36), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for SB278?

On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3223