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69th Legislature 2025 HB 445.1
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 445
1 HOUSE BILL NO. 445
2 INTRODUCED BY Z. WIRTH, L. SCHUBERT, M. VINTON, E. ALBUS, K. LOVE, G. OVERSTREET, T.
3 SHARP, E. TILLEMAN, S. GIST, J. SCHILLINGER, L. DEMING, P. FIELDER, G. KMETZ, G. PARRY, B.
4 BEARD
5
6 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT REVISING LEGISLATIVE GOALS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION TO
7 ENCOURAGE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION IN READING AND WRITING IN CURSIVE
8 HANDWRITING TO STUDENTS; AMENDING SECTION 20-1-102, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
9 DATE.”
10
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
12
13Section 1. Section 20-1-102, MCA, is amended to read:
14 "20-1-102. Legislative goals for public elementary and secondary schools. It is the goal of the
15 legislature that Montana's public elementary and secondary school system, in cooperation with parents or
16 guardians, create a learning environment for each student that:
17 (1) develops a sound foundation for literacy and numeracy during the early years that is built upon
18 on and reinforced throughout the educational experience;
19 (2) furthers the ability to reason critically, creatively, and strategically;
20 (3) fosters the ability to effectively understand and communicate ideas, knowledge, and thoughts;
21 (4) develops a sense of personal and civic responsibility;
22 (5) provides an in-depth understanding of the American political, social, and economic systems
23 and the historical context from which they arose;
24 (6) provides familiarization with political, social, and economic systems found elsewhere in the
25 world;
26 (7) develops a strong work ethic, postsecondary readiness, and employment skills;
27 (8) encourages a healthy lifestyle; and
28 (9) supports instruction of financial literacy, where in which students obtain the knowledge and
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 445.1
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 445
1 skills required to succeed financially; and
2 (10) provides instruction for all students in reading and writing in cursive handwriting, to develop
3 cognitive and fine motor skills in young students, and to ensure that all students are able to read original
4 documents, such as the United States constitution, which are foundational to understanding the history and
5 contemporary context of the nation's government."
6
7 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
8 - END -