20-7-1801. Findings -- purpose -- legislative intent. (1) The legislature finds that the ability to read at or above grade level is essential for educational success. The legislature also finds that too many Montana children are not reading proficient at the end of 3rd grade.

(2) The purposes of this bill are to:

(a) provide parents with voluntary early literacy interventions for their children;

(b) increase the number of children who are reading proficient at the end of 3rd grade and in so doing help those children develop their full educational potential pursuant to Article X, section 1(1), of the Montana constitution; and

(c) foster a strong economic return for the state on early literacy investment through enhancing Montana's skilled workforce and decreasing future reliance on social programs and the criminal justice system.

(3) The legislature intends that the board of public education, the office of public instruction, and the boards of trustees of school districts collaborate to implement this part and achieve the purposes under subsection (2).

(4) The legislature further intends that the board of public education, the office of public instruction, and the boards of trustees of school districts collaborate on an ongoing basis to gather, analyze, and make available outcome data and continually refine the interventions to increase the efficacy and efficiency of each intervention.