- Mandatory Reporting
- COVID – 19 Resources for Schools
- Tobacco Use Prevention Education
- Parenting Montana Site Expansion
- Summer Food Service Program Extensions
- Free & Reduced Priced School Meal Applications
Educators play a critical role in the efforts to keep Montana children safe. Like many states, Montana saw decreases in reports of suspected child abuse and neglect as school buildings closed and education quickly transitioned to remote learning last spring.
Experts do not believe that child maltreatment actually decreased during this time and are concerned that the observed decrease is because mandated reporters, such as teachers and childcare providers, were no longer physically present with children on a daily basis.
To help school staff know their role as mandatory reporters, the OPI recently updated Mandatory Reporting for Educators on the Teacher Learning Hub. To specifically address the current needs, we have added a new section titled “Considerations for Virtual Learning.” This resource provides strategies and classroom activities to help school staff in identifying child abuse or neglect during remote learning sessions, as well as community supports for families.
Please check out this updated course on the OPI Teacher Learning Hub.
For more information contact Tammy Lysons at Tamara.Lysons@mt.gov
School Emergency Operations Planning Technical Assistance
The Office of Public Instruction has partnered with the Salish Kootenai College Emergency Services Academy to support schools in their efforts to understand, manage, and develop emergency operations plans unique to their schools and communities.
If you are interested in receiving technical assistance with your emergency operational planning, please reach out to Michele Henson, School Safety Program Manager at OPI.
This technical assistance could include topics relating to COVID-19 processes outlined in the OPI’s Reopening Guidance. This resource is provided to you at no cost to the school or school district.
Personal Protective Equipment for Schools and School-based Programs
Hopa Mountain [hopamountain.org], a Bozeman-based nonprofit organization, has been distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to organizations throughout Montana; and is now focusing on supporting schools and school-based programs meet their PPE needs.
Currently, Hopa Mountain is able to ship face shields and adult masks (as available) to schools free of charge. Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer at bsawyer@hopamountain.org welcomes inquiries from anyone who would like to request face shields and/or masks, or would like to know more about other personal protective equipment available through Hopa Mountain. Please call their office at 406-586-2455.
Michele Henson, School Safety Program Manager at OPI. 406-595-1058
Vaping: Know the Truth
Check out this new vaping prevention curriculum from Truth Initiative which includes 4 free digital lessons created to help students understand the health risks associated with vaping, the consequences of nicotine addiction and to become aware of marketing strategies intended to attract them to vaping. The good news is this curriculum also focuses on positive social norms in opposition to vaping, empowering students with strategies for quitting if they are users and better yet, it reinforces skills to resist any influences to try vaping at all.
These self-led digital lessons can be used in the classroom or remotely. Here’s an overview from Truth Initiative as well as an introductory video about the curriculum. Educators can register for Vaping: Know the Truth here.
Connecting the Dots to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use in Montana
Montana educators play a vital role in the work to reduce tobacco use by youth. Susan Court, the OPI’s YRBS coordinator has prepared this document identifying successes we’ve had reducing youth use of traditional tobacco products (cigarettes, smokeless and cigars) and also reminding us that too many Montana students have tried vaping or are current vapers.
The good news is schools are addressing youth tobacco use through policy and curricula. We hope that our efforts to keep you updated about new vaping prevention resources for schools will help address the current youth vaping epidemic.
Just a Reminder: Check Out This Online Resource from Stanford Medicine
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A self-paced online vaping prevention course for students. Provide students with an opportunity to learn remotely about: the health risks of using e-cigarettes including Juul and Puff Bar, the increased risk of severe Covid-19 infection for those who vape and the marketing tactics used by nicotine companies to target young people. |
Please contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or 406.444.0785 if you’re interested in hosting an OPI specific virtual live or pre-recorded vaping prevention lesson with your students or school staff.
As always, thank you for the work you do to help Montana youth stay tobacco-free.
https://parentingmontana.org/ is expanding to support more parents and those in a parenting role. The expansion includes new resources that provide practical tools to support parents of children 0-4, information for current foster parents and those considering fostering, increased access to the information through audio files, informative “how-to” videos, and a new podcast series featuring national parenting experts all incorporated into the newly designed website.
In addition to tools for parents, ParentingMontana.org has a toolkit of resources for community prevention coordinators to get the word out across Montana and to help facilitate this information with parents. Resources for engaging teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and other community liaisons are available in the coordinator toolkit. All the tools and information on the website can be easily viewed, downloaded, or shared electronically. The website also has a link of how Montanans can connect with a Prevention Coordinator in their area.
USDA Flexibilities to Allow the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Until as Late as June 30, 2021
On October 9th, 2020, USDA extended multiple nationwide Summer Food Service Program waivers. These extensions mean that districts operating USDA Child Nutrition Programs may have options for feeding students through June 30, 2021.
- Districts may continue to operate the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or switch to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) through June 30, 2021. Please note that each program has different regulations and meal counting/claiming requirements. Districts must have an approved MAPS agreement with OPI School Nutrition Programs to operate and claim meals for either program.
- Districts that have already been approved to operate the School Year SFSP may log into MAPS and extend their days/months of operation on the site applications through the end of the school year (or longer if planning to operate next summer).
- Districts that have not yet signed up to operate the School Year SFSP, but want to make the change must first complete the School Year SFSP Form. Once this form is submitted, you will receive a call from your Regional Specialist to determine next steps.
OPI has developed a meal service options resource for school nutrition programs to consider in the case of staff quarantine or school closures. Reach out to your SNP Specialist for additional ideas or questions.
Verification of Free and Reduced Price School Meal Applications
The OPI is waiting for additional Federal guidance surrounding free and reduced eligibility data, economically disadvantaged and poverty indicators for SY 2021 and will send updated information once received.
In the meantime, schools that participate in School Nutrition Programs National School Lunch Program (NSLP), including schools that may have started the school year using the School Nutrition Programs NSLP then changed to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), must do the following during SY 2020-21:
- Report student’s free and reduced eligibility (FRAM) determinations in AIM for meal applications received from households during 2020-21.
- Check DCA for direct certifications at least three times during SY 2020-21 and document eligibility changes.
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Verification- Schools that have received free and reduced-price meal applications from households during SY 2020-21 must conduct verification of 3% of applications on file and report the results in the MAPS system by February 28, 2021.
Camille Biazzo
Camille.Biazzo@mt.gov
School Nutrition Asst Director
444-4415
Student Support Services Department
Coordinated School Health Unit: Leona Wetherall, 406-444-0751
School Nutrition: Clay Hickman, 406-444-2501
Traffic Education: Patti Borneman, 406-444-4432
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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