EARLY LITERACY AND NUMERACY

In 2023, the Montana Legislature passed the Early Literacy Targeted Intervention Act, designed to improve the number of students reading proficiently by third grade. 20-7-1803, MCA, provides for three different types of interventions for school districts to offer eligible students: classroom-based program, home-based program, and jumpstart program. In 2025, the Montana Legislature expanded the Act to include early numeracy into the early intervention programs.

The local board of trustees shall adopt and ensure use of an evaluation methodology to identify, enroll, and admit children to early targeted interventions. The evaluation methodology used must be overseen by and include application of professional judgment of qualified employees. A child may not be evaluated for the purposes of these interventions unless requested by the child's parent or guardian. The district must maintain evidence of the request. The evaluation methodology must assess at least one of the literacy skills outlined in ARM 10.54.901 and ARM 10.54.903.

According to ARM 10.54.901 and ARM 10.54.903, the Board of Public Education must review the list of approved evaluation methodology literacy and numeracy screening tools in odd years to ensure continuous adherence to developmentally appropriate and research-based screening tool requirements.

To facilitate the Board of Public Education’s review of early literacy and numeracy screening tool application, applicants must submit the application to bpe@mt.gov between the dates of December 1 and January 1, with a deadline of January 1 at 5PM. All submission materials must be submitted in a single electronic submission. Multiple attachments will not be accepted in the submission.

We recognize that this application may not provide the space to fully respond to each of the questions in the application. Please provide a brief, direct response to each question, with reference to attachments, appendices, and weblinks to lengthier handbooks, policies, manuals, and additional information. Please make sure to clearly state where any corresponding responses.

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee approval. Failure to adhere to any requirements may lead to an incomplete application that is rejected before consideration.

Applications may be received by the Board of Public Education at bpe@mt.gov between December 1 and January 1. The Board will take action on applications at the following March Board meeting.

• Literacy Application
• Literacy Evaluation Criteria
• 2024 List of Approved Literacy Screening Tools
• Numeracy Application
• Numeracy Evaluation Criteria
• 2026 List of Approved Numeracy Screening Tools