House bill would help schools aid English learners

HELENA – Lawmakers heard a bill Monday that would provide state funds for school district programs helping English learners.

Rep. Sharon Stewart Peregoy, D-Crow Agency, told members of the House Education Committee that House Bill 18 came from the State-Tribal Relations Committee, and would help students who have limited English proficiency to the point where it is hurting their academic performance. She said the largest number of the 3,000 students in that category are Native American, making up 2 percent of the total student population in Montana.

“These are not newcomers, these are children who are native born and impacted by language other than English,” she said.

Peregoy said Montana is one of four states that do not provide funding for English-learners and that state funds would be matched by federal funds in a competitive grant process.

“The bill provides funding for school districts to help students achieve and perform,” she said. The funds would be for districts with high numbers of English learners.

"The intent is that at the end of the day we will help students do well academically," she said.

According to the bill, a school district will match the state funds through a subgrant from the federal government. 

The bill says there is $500,000 appropriated from the state general fund to the office of public instruction for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for these purposes. The secretary of state shall send a copy of the act to tribal governments  on the seven Montana reservations and to the Little Shell Chippewa tribe.

The bill was supported by the Montana School Boards Association, Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder and several others.

“We stand up in support of the bill,” said Steve Meloy, an advocacy specialist with the association, noting the state constitution calls for the “educational goals” of all children.

"Regardless of the technicalities, the school boards are fine with this bill," he said.

Others who spoke in favor the bill include Brandi King of the Fort Belknap Tribal Council, Dianne Burke, executive director of the Montana Quality Education Association and Jordan Thompson of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

“Language is communication and language is healing,” King said, adding there should be access for all.

The committee did not take a vote Monday.

Reach Phil Drake at 406-422-0772 or pdrake@greatfallstribune.com