The OPI is providing this newsletter every month for an update on current events and ongoing education-related issues in Montana. The next Navigator will be sent to you on February 3 , 2023.

For previous editions of the Navigator click here.

Calendar of Events

Countdown to the 68th Legislative Session

4 days From December 30, 2022, until the legislative session begins!!

State Superintendent’s Message

Please click here to view the Superintendent’s message for the New Year!

Important Upcoming Dates

Please Join Superintendent Arntzen, Montana Parents and Legislators for a Special Celebration of Parents January 2, 2023 11:00 am in the rotunda at the Capitol

For more information, please contact Jenna McKinney, Director of Family Engagement, at jenna.mckinney@mt.gov.

Join the Office of Public Instruction on January 3, 2023, for a virtual discussion on the investment in Montana education. This will focus on ESSER funds and is open to all who wish to learn more about these federal COVID relief dollars.

Presenters include:

• James Lane, Senior Advisor, US Department of Education
• Glendive Superintendent Stephen Schreibeis – water health improvement
• Eureka Superintendent Joel Graves – mental health and tiny houses within Career and Technical Education
• Rachel Wanderscheid, Director of the Montana Afterschool Alliance – mental health and math
• Target Range Superintendent Heather Davis Schmidt – outdoor learning spaces
• Fergus County Superintendent Rhonda Long – small rural school focus

For more information, please contact Wendi Fawns at wendi.fawns@mt.gov.

Celebrating Parents as the First Teachers: January 2, 2023, Capitol Rotunda 11:00 am

Swearing in Ceremony: January 2, 2023, 12:00 pm

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Panel: January 3, Capitol Room 303  11:45-12:45 pm

Tribal Education Caucus: Capitol Room 350 every Thursday beginning January 5, 2023, 4:00pm-5:00 pm

Education Caucus: Capitol Room 335 every other Tuesday beginning January 10, 2023,

7:00-7:30 am

Family Caucus: Capitol Room 350 Every other Thursday beginning January 5, 2023,

12:00-1:00 pm

Indian Education for All Gathering: February 14, 2023, Capitol Rotunda 12:00 pm

Celebrating Women’s History: March 22, 2023, Capitol Rotunda 12:00 pm

Recognition of Unified Champions- Special Olympics: March 28, 2023,

12:00-1:00 pm

MT Ready Day Career Day: April 12, 2023, Capitol Rotunda 12:00 pm

68th Legislature - 2023 Session Calendar – Draft Schedule

Click here to view the Legislative Calendar.

Legislation

Montana Legislature Bill Search Results for Education

Click the image to link to the list of Schools and Education Bills.

As of 12/29/2022, there are 269 Total Requested Education Bill Drafts and 10 Introduced Bills. These requested bills fit into the following categories:

There are 271 Introduced Bills and 4349 total Requested Bill Drafts as of 12/29/22.

OPI Priority Legislation

A Promise is a Promise: Base Aid requirements to fund Public Schools-this is in the Governor’s budget Teacher Dollars Working for Teachers: Teacher Licensing fees supporting the teacher licensing system-this is in the Governor’s budget New Audiology Equipment: one-time-only funding-this is in the Governor’s budget Mental Health: Tuition for any residential mental health treatment, Return Comprehensive School and Community Treatment to DPHHS

OPI Legislative Ideas

Family

1. Immunity for use of a legal name
2. Identify violation of education statute as gross neglect of duty
3. Empower families through local grievance process

 Teacher

1. Consolidate licenses to three types
2. Require current contact information for licensees and applicants, and allow service of process via mail
3. Move to 8 years in teacher retirement with sunset
4. Flexible teacher retirement and reemployment

 Flexibility

1. State-tribal education compact
2. OPI approval of textbook content
3. Apply open meeting laws to public associations
4. Career coaches

 Elections

1. Move school elections to the general election date

Opportunities

1. Financial Literacy
2. Montana Interstate Children’s Compact Commission position
3. Digital pre-K learning
4. Expand Teach Act
5. Continue Teacher Residency program
6. Access to telework employees
7. Return Perkins financial control to OPI
8. Defining and aligning definitions with Chapter 55

Office of Public Instruction Legislative Updates

Use this QR Code to stay connected and up to date with OPI’s Legislative updates.   For more information contact Tara Boulanger, Legislative Liaison, (406) 444-2082

Montana's 68th Legislative Session Tribal Education Caucus

Please join us for Tribal Education Caucus: Capitol Room 350 every Thursday beginning January 5, 2023, 4:00pm-5:00 pm.

For the tribal Caucus meeting information and materials click here.

Montana's 68th Legislative House and Senate Education Caucus’s

Please join us for Education Caucus: Capitol Room 335 every other Tuesday beginning January 10, 2023, 7:00-7:30 am

For the Education Caucus meeting information and materials click here.

Land Board

As one of five Land Board Commissioner it is my honor to determine how our public lands will be used for our public schools, which offsets the burden of our Montana taxpayers.

OPI Updates

Bridging the Communication Between Schools and Families

During the month of December Superintendent Arntzen visited Kalispell, Stevensville, Billings, and Great Falls for listening sessions with parents, school leaders, and legislators. More listening sessions will take place in January, stay tuned for dates and locations!

Superintendent Arntzen Hosts Celebration of Parents in Helena on January 2

For more information, please contact Jenna McKinney, Director of Family Engagement at Jenna.McKinney@mt.gov   or 406-438-3400.

OPI Agricultural Specialist Eric Tillman

December 2022 Press Releases

• Superintendent Arntzen and Commissioner Ray Shaw Award Montana’s Military Friendly Schools and Community Members
• Superintendent Arntzen Reminds Schools to Register for the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
• Superintendent Arntzen to Host Conversations with Community Members, School Leaders, and Legislators
• UPDATED: Superintendent Arntzen Seeks Public Comment for Special Education Alternative Assessment Waiver
• Superintendent Arntzen Prioritizes School Safety
• Superintendent Arntzen Issues Reminder on School Safety and School Closures
• Superintendent Arntzen Hosts Celebration of Parents in Helena on January 2

For more information, please contact Brian O’Leary, Communications Director at Brian.O’Leary@mt.gov  or 406-444-355.

Join us in Celebrating

State Library Commission- Dewey Decimal Day

One of my responsibilities as State Superintendent is serving on the Montana State Library Commission with Chair Dalton Johnson. Dewey Decimal Day is a great time to visit your local library and learn more about how this system helps keep our libraries organized!

Montana’s 8 Native American Tribes

Montana is home to 8 Native American tribes, each with their own unique seal. To learn what these seals represent please visit https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/Indian%20Education/Art/Seals_of_Tribal_Nations_Student_Lesson.pdf?ver=2020-04-09-094500-690

#nationalnativeamericanday

2022-2023 Purple Star Awards

The Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) and the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) are proud to announce Montana’s Purple Star Schools and Purple Star Champions Awardees.

Montana’s 2022 - 2023 Purple Star School Awardees are:

• Montana School for the Deaf and Blind
• Great Falls High School - Great Falls Public Schools
• Chief Joseph Elementary School - Great Falls Public Schools
• Meadow Lark Elementary School - Great Falls Public Schools
• Early Learning Family Center - Great Falls Public Schools

The 2022- 2023 Purple Star Champion Awardees are:

• Brian Holbein, Lt. Col (R) JROTC Teacher at Great Falls High School
• Michael Wonch, MSgt (R) JROTC Teacher at Great Falls High School
• Col Christopher Karns, Mission Support Group Commander, Malmstrom AFB

The Purple Star Award distinguishes Montana schools and individual champions that have displayed extraordinary commitment to supporting our military students and their families. To qualify as a Purple Star School, each school must meet specific designation criteria and be given support through the state and national Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission to continue the strong support of our military-connected students and families.  This is the third year MIC3 and OPI will be recognizing Montana’s military-friendly schools with the Purple Star School Award.  This is the second year recognizing and awarding Montana Purple Star Champions.

For more information please contact Jenna McKinney, Director of Family Engagement, at jenna.mckinney@mt.gov.

Innovations for Montana Students

1. MAST Pilot Program
2. Chapter 55-Rule Changes
3. Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds
4. Math Content Standards Review
5. Waterford Upstart
6. Title IV-A Safe and Healthy Students- Stronger Connections Grant

Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) Pilot Program

The second testing window of the MAST program will be open from January 17-30, 2023. The first testing window had successful state-wide participation with: 62 schools 33 school districts 75 educators 4,156 students 5,529 tests completed

Teachers, test coordinators, principals, counselors, administrators, and superintendents participated in a feedback survey about the first testing window between November 18 and December 13.

Respondents were asked to rate their experience in preparing to administer the testlets:

• 46% said it was easy
• 14% said it was neither easy nor difficult
• 18% said it was difficult

Respondents were asked to rate their experience in administering the testlets:

• 69% said it was easy
• 10% said it was neither easy nor difficult
• 21% said it was difficult

The next testing window is January 17-30, 2023.

For more information please contact Sam Walsh, MAST Project Manager, at Samantha.Walsh@mt.gov.

Chapter 55 – School Accreditation Rule Changes

After more than 30 years Montana's School Accreditation standards are changing to prioritize student learning. On January 12-13 the Board of Public Education will continue to respond to public comment on the proposed changes to Chapter 55.   To view a five-page summary of the rule changes, please click here.   The revised timeline for Chapter 55 is: January 12-13, 2023 – Adoption notice to BPE for consideration/respond to comments (cont.) March 9-10, 2023 – BPE authorization to publish adoption notice March 14, 2023 – Adoption notice to SOS for publication in MAR March 24, 2023 – MAR publication of adoption notice July 2023 – Effective date of rules

For more information, please contact Dr. Julie Murgel, Chief Operating Officer at julie.murgel@mt.gov or (406) 444-3172.

3.   Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds – ESSER

On December 7, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education released an updated ESSER FAQ document. This new FAQ emphasized the need for meaningful stakeholder input as States and Districts spend the allocated funds. Several points of clarification in the FAQ include: Early warning systems for student achievement Healthy schools – air and water improvement and school security College and Career pathways Leveraging federal, state, and local funds Liquidation and spend-down guidance

The zoom link is: https://mtgov.zoom.us/j/82210808007?pwd=NmVZbUFSZmhsSHorU2MvRkh2Um8vdz09

On November 29, 2022 board trustees were sent a monthly allocation report for ESSER funds. These reports can be found here.

The state-wide ESSER allocation through November 30, 2022 is:

For more information, please contact Wendi Fawns at wendi.fawns@mt.gov

Math Content Standards Review

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen, with approval from the Montana Board of Public Education, has opened the Montana Mathematics Standards for review. We are excited about this opportunity and we would like for the people of Montana to do this with us. Academic content standards provide a roadmap for what students should know and be able to do. Local school districts can then use these standards to guide the development of their local curricula, along with the professional learning of their educators. We want your voices to be heard as we strive to serve our Montana students and educators with the best-possible mathematics standards to guide instruction, and prepare our students well for their lives beyond the classroom.

If you haven’t already submitted an interest survey, they is still time to participate. We are especially in need of representatives from a variety of stakeholder groups from across Montana. Whether you are an educator, parent/guardian, student, business and industry employee, or a member of the greater Montana community, your perspectives are important to the integrity of this process.

We are so grateful for all of the educators who already responded to our Montana Math Standards Review Interest Survey. Please share this link with other educators and stakeholders who may be interested in participating in this process.

We will use this information to form several committees for this work. We will be forming an Advisory Committee and other committees as the work progresses. 

For updated information on the Math Standards Review, please visit the K-12 Content Standards webpage.

On December 6, 2022, US Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten released a letter on using federal funds to support STEM education strategies. The letter can be read here.

If you have questions, please contact Sonja Whitford at sonja.whitford @mt.gov

Waterford Upstart

The Upstart program is an in-home kindergarten readiness program offered to families of 4-year-olds. In 2021-2022, 393 children in Montana participated and an average of 92% scored at “Kindergarten Beginning” or above, demonstrating strong school readiness outcomes, in reading. Math and science scores were above 80, which is the expected average score.   For more information on the 2021-2022 Waterford Upstart program please click here. Please contact Lucy Beltz with any questions or concerns.

Title IV-A Safe and Healthy Students- Stronger Connection Grant

Through the federal congressional Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of June 2022, the Montana Office of Public Instruction was awarded $4.8 million in additional funding for Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This one-time funding is in addition to the Title IV, Part A funding already allocated to the Montana OPI and 95% of these funds will be made available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) through a competitive subgrant application.   The Title IV Part A (T4PA) Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) focuses on improving conditions for student learning by encouraging schools to implement a comprehensive plan incorporating evidence-based activities, programs, and practices to create safer and healthier learning environments which promote positive school climates as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Section 4108.   The SCG must be used to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive programs within “high need” local educational agencies (LEAs). See eligibility criteria for “high need” designation. Grant activities may be fully or partially funded by these funds. Please note that these competitive grants will carry the same supplement, not supplant and equitable share requirements as the formula Title IV-A grants. Several factors will determine the size of the awards (with a minimum allocation of $10,000 per LEA); review of submitted applications, potential scope of the project, projected cost for implementation, available funds, and applications that demonstrate a strong commitment to providing the greatest promise for positive impact. For more information please contact Paige Sedahl, Program Manager, at paige.sedahl@mt.gov or (406) 422-2821.

Questions? Contact: 

Tara Boulanger, Legislative Liaison, (406) 444-2082

Questions? Contact: 

Brian O'Leary, Communications Director, (406) 444-3559

Tara Boulanger, Legislative Liaison, (406) 444-2082

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.