New Teacher Training
Participation and Registration for the New Teacher Training (NTT) 2021-22 has been temporarily postponed. Please look for a notice in future Compass publications about new start dates. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Special Education School Improvement Manager, John Gorton at john.gorton@mt.gov.
Monitoring 2021-22
Special Education district monitoring for the 2021-22 school year has started. The OPI will be using a modified process this year. If your district is on the rotation for this year’s cycle, one of the lead monitors will be getting in touch with you in advance of your monitoring time. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Special Education School Improvement Manager, John Gorton at john.gorton@mt.gov.
The MTSS Community of Practice will be held on the third Thursday of every month from 4:00-5:00 pm. The purpose of the MTSS COP is to explore topics of interest, to provide technical assistance and support for implementing best practices in MTSS, and to build a collaborative network for educators throughout Montana. Following each presentation, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas.
November 18, 2021 4:00-5:00
Sped Community of Practice (click to see login information)
The Special Education Community of Practice will be held the first Thursday of the Month from 3:30-4:30. There will be a short presentation on a topic followed by a discussion around that topic. The purpose of these meetings is to provide technical assistance and support for Special Education teachers as well as help build a network for teachers throughout Montana.
November 4, 2021 3:30-4:30
Presenters: Chris McCrea
Topic: ESY
High School Forum
The Montana Office of Public Instruction is excited to offer the 2021 Montana High School Forum. The event is open to all Montana high school educators who are actively seeking ways to improve their instruction and relationship-building capacities. This best practice expo is intentionally focused on collaboration and the sharing of comprehensive and responsive best practices, geared toward the MTSS three-tiered framework. Topics include school-based health care, school-to-work practices, homeless and transitional youth, building morale, accelerated learning, with the 2021 keynote address by John Perricone; “Why Am I A Teacher”.
Where: Delta Hotel and Conference Center, Helena, MT
When: November 16, 2021 8:00 am-4:00 pm (CEU’s will be offered)
Registration Link
Bella’s MTSS Tier I, Tier II, Tier III Coaching Sessions (click to see login information)
Dr. Bella Bikowsky, a national consultant who specializes in integrating behavioral and mental health supports in school settings, will be offering open office hours one day each month. She will provide coaching sessions for interested MTSS teams on implementing Tiered Behavioral Supports, Restorative Practices, Trauma Responsiveness, and Social Emotional Learning.
Topic: OPI MTSS Virtual State Meeting
Last Tuesday of each month from 11:00am-12:30pm dates as follows:
November 2nd
November 30th
Exclude December
January 25th
February 22nd
March 29th
April 26th
May 31st
Sign Language Interpreter Training (click to see login information)
As a participating TASK 12 Member State, Montana, has collaborated with the IMET program to provide free access to five different online professional development modules developed for sign language interpreters. Certificates of completion and RID CEUs are available for successful completion. Modules have been designed to be completed independently online at a self-pace.
For questions, please contact Jennifer Nettleton.
Sensory Impairment Program Open to Montana Special Education Teachers
Montana teachers have a unique 2.5 year training opportunity through the Project INVITE grant to earn a Master's in Special Education with an emphasis in Orientation and Mobility or Visual Impairment. Lead by experts from the Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities at Texas Tech, participants will gain intensive training to work with children with visual impairments in rural, remote, and high-need areas.
Read more about the program specifics in this Project INVITE flyer. It shares overall program information on page 1, with a list of courses that are part of the program on page 2.
Upcoming Grant Opportunity
Montana Tiered System of Supports
. . . increasing the capacity for school districts in Montana to
implement a continuum of evidence-based practices and
supports within a tiered framework, providing all students
with the best opportunities to maximize achievement,
both academically and behaviorally.
The purpose of the grant is to provide training and support to districts in building the capacity to implement a systems-level problem-solving approach at the district, school, classroom, and individual student level within the multi-tiered systems (MTSS) framework to facilitate the adoption of evidence-based academic and behavioral practices.
Grant Overview
Training will be available through a zoned implementation approach that corresponds with the regional CSPD zones. Applications will be accepted from Districts following this schedule:
Region 1: Grant Implementation began spring of 2021
Regions 2 and 3: Grant Implementation to begin Fall 2022, Applications available Nov 17, 2021
Regions 4 and 5: Grant Implementation to begin Fall 2023, Applications available Nov 2022
Benefits of Participation
Working with the Montana Tiered System of Supports project will help schools achieve two key outcomes:
- Establish an effective, efficient process for data-based decision making to continually meet the needs of all students and staff; and
- Improve academic, behavior, and social emotional growth and well-being for all students.
Application Timeline
Applications for the 2022 grant cohort from Region 2 and 3 will be available Nov 17, 2021 and applications are due by Jan 17, 2022. To request an application, email both Sandy Elmore and Jennifer Nettleton.
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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