The House Education Committee of the Montana Legislature convened on March 21, 2025, to discuss several key issues affecting education and childcare in the state. The meeting featured testimony from various stakeholders, including parents and educators, focusing on the challenges faced by working families and the importance of early literacy programs.

One notable speaker was Alex Du Bois, a parent from Butte, Montana, who shared her personal experience with the early literacy intervention program offered by the Butte School District. Du Bois expressed her enthusiasm for the program, which her four-year-old son has been attending for eight months. She highlighted the positive impact it has had on her child's learning and excitement about school. However, Du Bois also addressed the logistical challenges that arise from the program's limited hours, which run from 8:15 AM to 1:15 PM, necessitating additional childcare arrangements for working parents.

Du Bois emphasized the strain this places on families, despite her own privilege in being able to adjust her work hours. She advocated for House Bill 654, which aims to foster collaboration between school districts and childcare providers to better support working families. Du Bois argued that the bill would allow communities to creatively address the needs of children and alleviate some of the burdens on parents.

The committee listened attentively to Du Bois's testimony, which underscored the need for systemic changes to support early childhood education and the realities faced by working families. The discussion around HB 654 is expected to continue, with further testimonies and deliberations planned in future meetings. The committee's focus on these issues reflects a growing recognition of the importance of integrating educational and childcare services to better serve Montana's families.