OPI Receives the Montana Afterschool Grant
The OPI has received the Montana Afterschool Grant, $3.8 million in funding designated by the Montana Legislature through House Bill 632. Leveraging the State's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funding, the Afterschool Grant is intended to enhance and expand student access to quality afterschool programming. Afterschool programming can provide students the continuity of support necessary to help them meet their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
More information about the grant will be shared on the OPI website in the near future, beginning with intent to apply information in early October. Established nonprofits and schools are invited to apply.
September State School Funding Payments
The September State School Funding Payments for FY 2022 were posted at the following link: State School Payments
The September 27, 2021, payments include: Direct State Aid, Quality Educator Component, At Risk Component, Indian Education for All, Student Achievement Gap, Data for Achievement and Special Education.
The FY 2022 October payment is scheduled for October 26, 2021.
If you have questions regarding the payments, please contact Mari Haefka at (406) 444-9852.
Fall Student Count for ANB in MAEFAIRS
The MAEFAIRS web application is ready for Fall Student Count for ANB importing from AIM. The instructions for the count can be found at Student Count for ANB Instructions
The official fall count day is Monday, October 4, 2021. To give district AIM staff the opportunity to verify and finalize enrollment data, the Student Count for ANB must be imported on or after October 4, 2021. Student Count for ANB reports must be submitted to the MAEFAIRS system no later than October 20, 2021.
For MAEFAIRS questions or to correct data once it has been submitted, please contact: Nica Merala or (406) 444-4401.
Compensation Expenditure Reporting
MAEFAIRS is available to report information for the FY2021 Compensation Expenditure Report. The Compensation Expenditure report is due to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) by December 10, 2021.
The FY 2021 Compensation Expenditure Reporting Instructions have been updated and are available on the OPI website at FY 2021 Compensation Expenditure Reporting Instructions.
If you have questions regarding Compensation Expenditure Reporting please contact Renee Richter at (406) 444-1960.
ESSER Consolidated Guidance
An updated ESSER Consolidated Guidance document has been posted to the OPI website at ESSER Consolidated Guidance
If you have questions regarding the ESSER Consolidated Guidance document please contact Jeff Kirksey, ESSER Program Manager, 406-444-0783 or Renee Richter, Financial Specialist, 406-444-1960.
ESSER I, II & III Update
Thank you for your diligent efforts to meet Federal ESSER deadlines while serving your students and your communities so well amid a challenging start to the school year. Below are important dates to be aware of as you seek to leverage ESSER funds to address student and district needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- ESSER II & III E-grant Applications were due September 1, 2021. Thank you to all of those who have submitted e-grant applications. Applications are being reviewed within 3-5 business days of submission. If you still have not made your initial e-grant submission for ESSER II or ESSER III please do so by October 1, 2021. This will be the last day to originate an application for these funds.
- If you do not plan to use all or part of your ESSER II or ESSER III allocation please send a letter from your board chair declining the funds (or the portion you will not be using) to Jeff Kirksey. These funds can then be reallocated to other Montana schools. If funds are not utilized by the end of the obligation period, the funds will be returned to the Federal Government.
- Safe Return to In-person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans AND District ARP ESSER Plans should be posted to your school website and made publicly available. These were to be posted on June 24 and August 24, respectively. If you have not done this, please do this as soon as possible. If your district does not maintain a school website, please reach out to Jeff Kirksey for further instructions on making your plan publicly available.
- Safe Return Plan AND District ARP ESSER Plan review processes will begin in October in accordance with the Federal six-month review expectation. This review process requires stakeholder engagement. Further guidance will be made available in early October with the goal of having all plans reviewed and resubmitted not later than November 24, 2021.
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Please visit https://opi.mt.gov/COVID-19-Information/ESSER for all of the latest ESSER guidance, resources and FAQs. Please reach out to Jeff Kirksey, ESSER Program Manager, 406-444-0783 with any of your ESSER related questions.
EANS Update
EANS I (Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools) is part of the CRRSA Act. This relief funding is unique as it is designated to provide services or assistance to eligible non-public schools to address educational disruptions caused by COVID-19. In Montana, Non-Public Schools includes homeschool families and private schools
The application for EANS I closed on August 27th. OPI received and approved 147 applications. This equates to a dedication of funds in excess of $3.2 million. The highest percent of requests was for computers, minor equipment and learning, and cleanings supplies. The second area was for professional and technical services followed by equipment and other.
Under EANS I, applicants can be reimbursed for allowable costs. The Cash Request process went “live” on September 22nd. The procurement process for requested services and item purchases is expected to be finalized soon.
Please visit https://opi.mt.gov/Home-Private-School-COVID-Funding for the latest EANS information and resources. Please reach out to Janey Salomon, EANS Program Manager with any of your EANS related questions at janey.salomon@mt.gov or (406) 410-1246.
Updated Chart of Account
The Chart of Accounts has been updated and posted to the OPI website at Chart of Accounts
If you have questions regarding the Chart of Accounts please contact Renee Richter, Financial Specialist, 406-444-1960.
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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