Montana OPI Navigator
January 7th
Welcome back to the Navigator, Happy New Year to all! The OPI is providing this newsletter to legislators every six weeks to keep you updated on current events and ongoing education-related issues in Montana.
The next Navigator will be sent to you on February 18th. Keep informed of our new developments and tribal specialists.
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Welcome our new tribal specialists to the OPI
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Matthew Bell will be joining the OPI on January 4 as the Native Language Immersion and Culture Specialist. Matthew will be overseeing the implementation of the Indian Language and Immersion Program and the Montana Language Preservation Program. Matthew has taught English and Native Language Studies for over 11 years. He has also studied Native American Studies in his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He has a strong knowledge of language instruction, including second language instruction. He has a desire to make a positive impact and increase native culture and improve language preservation opportunities. We look forward to Matthew joining the team and making a positive impact on Native Youth through native language and culture.
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Carrie Gopher will be joining the OPI in the new year on January 4 as the American Indian Student Achievement Director. Carrie has an extensive teaching background. She has taught all levels of school - elementary, middle, and high school. She has been an elementary, family and consumer science, driver’s education, and secondary math teacher in Rocky Boy School District. Carrie has also served as an assistant athletic director and native youth communities project coordinator. Most recently, she has served in a leadership role as a Dean of Students. She has a strong desire to support the education of Native American students across the state of Montana. She is currently completing her administrative degree and desires to take on leadership roles. She is willing to do whatever it takes to complete the job. We are excited to have Carrie joining the team and advocating for native youth achievement.
Releases from the Montana OPI
After School Programs
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has released the formal application for the Montana Afterschool Grant. This grant is part of the federal American Rescue Plan for COVID-19 relief. Afterschool community organizations, including schools, will receive $2,805,957 for the calendar year of 2022. Grantees can apply for renewal for the second year of funding.
The formal application is now open. For the first allocation, 75 afterschool programming sites are eligible to apply for funding, and over 4,000 Montana students will be served.
“As a classroom teacher of 23 years, partnership with afterschool programs is essential for the continuation of learning,” said State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “These afterschool partners provide a safe learning environment supporting our hardworking Montana parents.”
Homeless Children and Youth Grants
Under the Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP-HCY), Montana received two allocations of funds for a total of $1,876,824 to aid in educating homeless children and youth. In August 2021, a total of $469,206 was distributed through the McKinney-Vento grant process to sixteen eligible Montana districts that have a high number of homeless students. The second allocation of $1,407,618 million is available. The Intend to Apply window for Montana School Districts was open from October until December 3, 2021.
“As this New Year opens, we ask that these School Districts take advantage of this generous opportunity to serve these populations of families and students, as all Montana communities are affected by the challenges of homelessness,” said Superintendent Arntzen. “These federal tax dollars are critical in improving educational opportunities for all our children.”
Schools across Montana became aware of a concerning social media post circulating nationally through the popular application TikTok. Montana schools and law enforcement agents across the state have increased awareness, as TikTok trends have recently increased vandalism of schools. Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and Attorney General Austin Knudsen applaud schools for their awareness of these potential threats and support putting students' safety first.
"School resource officers and local law enforcement are vital to our children’s safety. Students' mental health and overall well-being are directly related to a safe learning environment,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. "Parents, schools, and communities must work together for students' health and physical safety.”
“The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation has been monitoring the so-called ‘challenge’ on social media in partnership with other law enforcement agencies. To date, there have not been any credible threats identified in our state,” Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. “I urge parents to be vigilant about their children’s use of social media – especially on the China-based TikTok – as this disturbing trend is just the tip of the iceberg.”
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Montana Blue Ribbon School Nominations
Montana Blue Ribbon School Nominations for 2022 have been submitted as of January 7. The Blue Ribbon School Program is a federal program that recognizes exemplary schools nominated by the state CCSSOs based on the schools’ current performance on state assessments. The state blue ribbon schools will be announced in September or October of 2022. If you have a blue ribbon school, please contact Dr. Julie Murgel at Julie.Murgel@mt.gov or 444-3172.
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Interim Budget Committee and ESSER and EANS Updates
From our schools, as of December 2021, a total of 305 applications for ESSER grant funding have been approved under ESSER I, and 303 have been approved under ESSER II.
- There have been 298 ESSER applications submitted under ARP ESSER, with 267 approved.
- The total expended budget by School District or LEA is $32,070,714 for ESSER I, $31,915,731 under ESSER II, and $8,260,008 under ESSER III.
- For more information, visit the information page on the OPI website or call Jeff Kirksey, MSED., OPI’s ESSER Program Manager, at (406) 444-0783.
The state of Montana received the CRRSA Emergency Aid to Nonpublic Schools (EANS) I award in the amount of $12,816,385 and received the ARP EANS II award in the amount of $12,063,324.
- It is estimated that the total awarded under EANS I will be $6,522,933, with the remainder reverting to the Gov. Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER).
- The EANS II award is still open for new applicants to submit an Intent to Apply. Information is available on the website. These are the parameters for the EANS II funds that nonpublic schools must meet to qualify for this award:
- Ability to show they are servicing a population that meets at least a 40% poverty level, and
- Living in an area in Montana that has been severely impacted by COVID.
During the initial round of applications for EANS I funds, $3,256,550 was approved and allocated to nonpublic schools. Following the updated guidance sent out by the Department of Education on September 17, 2021, EANS I applicants were provided with a survey to determine additional needs. Another $2,566,156 in funds will be allocated to applicants. There will also be a fee paid to the third-party contractor who will procure items and services as allowable under the EANS guidance. This leaves the balance of $6,293,452 to be reverted to the governor’s office.
Comprehensive School and Community Treatment Program (CSCT):
This is an overview of Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) on Student Mental Health Services with a Medicare/Medicaid match through HB 671 given by the legislature last session. The CSCT program is funded through school districts. This is the first year the school districts had to commit actual dollars to meet the state-required match for Medicaid participation funds. The 2021 legislature provided bridge funding of $2.2 million to aid in the transition. This current school year, the funding is from:
- A CSCT participating local school district
- Medicaid participation funds
- Legislature bridge funding.
The cost of CSCT varies based on student participation rates and local costs of mental health services. Pre-pandemic the cost was $48,000,000 to operate the program for 4,800 students.
During the 67th Legislative Session, OPI was appropriated, through HB 2, a little over $2.2 million in “bridge funding” to meet state match requirements for submitted and approved CSCT claims. The status of the funding as of December 23rd, $2,152,289 of the bridge funding had been expended for submitted claims. Due to additional claims submitted or processed, as of today, the bridge funding is depleted.
The OPI is not the entity that funds CSCT. We administer the CSCT program as outlined in the new statute. The funding from 2005 - 2018 came from an in-kind, or soft match, where no physical dollar was given from local districts. This is called certified public expenditure. The OPI, in consultation with districts and other partners, is hard at work looking to see if the certified public expenditure might be a viable option for our districts, with the changes noted by the Center for Medicaid-Medicare services noted to DPHHS in 2016. There is positive interest in this option. We will continue to work with our district’s partners, education advocate associations, mental health centers, the legislature, and DPHHS on more viable long-term solutions.
While the legislature did not provide a contingency plan or funds. There are many ways for districts to serve the mental health needs of students. School districts could use COVID Relief funds for mental health needs, but those funds are not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement.
There have been changes to the CSCT agreement. OPI has worked with its educational partners since the Memo of Understanding (MOU) with DPHHS, OPI, and the school districts were initially established. The primary changes requested to the CSCT agreement, or MOU were double indemnification and the effective date of the MOU. The OPI is considering these changes in consultation with Montana School Boards Association (MTSBA) legal, a private legal firm and DPHHS legal.
The OPI continues to work on these issues with our partner districts, DPHHS, MTSBA, and MASBO. The deadline for districts that choose to participate in CSCT must have their approved state match submitted by February 11 with a signed MOU in place.
On December 29, 2021, a requested face-to-face meeting was held at the capitol building and was live-streamed for public access.
For more information, please contact Deputy Sharyl Allen at Sharyl.allen@mt.gov or (406) 444-5658.
Montana Indian Language Preservation (MILP) Conference
The Montana Indian Language Conference will be held March 8-9, 2022, by the University of Montana in conjunction with the Chippewa Cree Tribe Department of Indian Education, the Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribal Education Department, Fort Peck Tribes Language and Culture Department, and MSU Bozeman Center for Bilingual and Multicultural Education.
 For more information Mr. Eagleman at eaglelodge22@gmail.com .
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Purple Star Champions Award
On December 7, 2021, the Montana Council on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3) met and awarded six Purple Star Schools and four Purple Star Champions.
A big shout out to our Purple Star Schools and our Purple Star Champions!
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- Valid Purple Star Schools Applicants Are:
- Flathead High School in Kalispell
- Holy Spirit Catholic School in Great Falls
- Morningside Elementary School in Great Falls
- Ben Steele Middle School in Billings
- Great Falls Central Catholic High School in Great Falls
- Townsend School District in Townsend
- Valid Purple Star Champion Nominees Are:
- Jennifer Bernhart, Missoula (Community Supporter)
- Hunter Jones, Will James Middle School (Educator)
- Joe Ferda, Great Falls (US Air Guard and Community Supporter)
- Kim Ray, Morningside Elementary School (Principal)
For more information, visit: https://mic3.net/state/montana/ or please contact Jessica Flint at jessica.flint@mt.gov or (406) 438-3400.
Teacher Licensure will be delivered to the Board of Public Education
The Montana OPI has released licensing recommendations to the Board of Public Education regarding updated rules for licensing of educators. Updates on teacher licensure will be delivered to the Board of Public Education on the 13th of this month. The goal is to improve the ability of Montana schools to hire new teachers.
- Reduce recent credit requirements and offer options in lieu of additional college or university coursework or credits.
- Reduce required years of experience and refine required evidence of effectiveness (e.g., use objective measures of “successful experience,” like a satisfactory evaluation rather than a supervisor/employer recommendation).
- Expand licensure eligibility for candidates with advanced credentials (e.g., National Board Certification).
- Treat traditional and alternative educator preparation pathways more equally for licensure purposes.
- Revise or allow more flexibility within licensure endorsement areas. For example, allowing specific content-area endorsement holders to teach beyond their endorsement areas may help address teacher shortages, particularly in rural schools (e.g., a history endorsement holder to teach a government course, without having to go back to college to obtain a “Broadfield Social Studies or government endorsement).
The OPI is also in the process of revamping the Montana Educator Licensing system. For more information, please see our licensure update.
For more information, please contact Crystal Andrews at crystal.andrews@mt.gov or (406) 444-6325.
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Legislation Updates from the OPI:
HB 207, and HB 267, which were sponsored by Representative Neil Duram, improve school bus safety laws. HB 300, sponsored by Representative Jerry Schillinger, revises school transportation laws.
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The OPI will rely on the judgment of individual school districts and recommend that school districts adhere to state safety standards regarding buses. The OPI is adopting new bus standards previously presented at the Board of Public Education. There will be an action item to adopt the new rules this month, January of 2022. |
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Questions? Contact:
Dennison Rivera, Communications Director
Brian.O'Leary, Deputy Communications Director
Dr. Trenin Bayless, OPI Project Manager
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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