ESSER II funds must have been obligated, i.e. have signed contracts, by September 30, 2023. The federal Department of Education (DOE) is providing an opportunity for school districts to extend the “liquidation” period for ESSER II funds. The original liquidation period ends on January 28, 2024, while the extended opportunity ends on March 31, 2025. The extension of the liquidation period does not provide flexibility to procure new products or services beyond the closing date but allows for extended time to complete obligated activities.

Liquidation requests are submitted by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI), on behalf of the district, to DOE for approval. Districts are required to explain why funds require liquidation extensions and what measures have been taken to liquidate funds in a timely fashion. Examples of documentation on file might include specific Purchase Orders, communications from vendors regarding delays, change orders, etc. 

ESSER III funds must be expended by September 30, 2024.

The state-wide ESSER allocation through August 31, 2023, is:

The OPI is creating an Early Literacy Collaborative, in order to support the OPI’s implementation of HB 352, by Rep. Brad Barker a bill that provides for early literacy interventions for identified students identified leading up to grade three. HB 352 intends for strong collaboration between government agencies, schools, families, educators, educator preparation programs, and communities. The focus of the OPI’s collaborative will be to provide guidance for implementation of the school and home-based literacy intervention programs determined by the Board of Public Education. In addition, the collaborative will provide data and feedback to the Board of Public Education’s Early Literacy Advisory Council. The OPI’s Early Literacy Collaborative will meet virtually monthly, starting in mid-October. If you are interested in participating in this exciting opportunity, please complete this form.

For more information, please contact Christy Mock-Stutz, Assistant Superintendent, at christy.mock-stutz@mt.gov.

We are so appreciative of the questions regarding teacher licensing fees. HB 403 revises the fee schedule for a person applying for the issuance or renewal of a teacher or specialist certificate. Currently, the annual cost is $6 per year for five years for teacher and specialist certificates. Superintendent Arntzen is following the intent of HB 403 from Rep. David Bedey, in order to generate sufficient revenue to administer and maintain the Teach Montana licensure system, including support staff. Keeping the teacher licensing, emergency authorization, and specialist fees at $6, aids in teacher recruitment and retention.

The average number of teacher license applications (calculated over 5 years):

• Standard teaching licenses (Class 2): 2,426
• Professional teaching licenses (Class 1): 1,332
• Administrator license (Class 3): 369
• Average other specialist licenses (such as counselor, psychologist, CTE): about 350
• New teacher applications each year: 1207
• New administrator application each year: 255

The total annual amount collected, on average, for all current teacher licenses and license application fees under the current fee structure is $158,208 which will increase to an estimated $357,995 under the proposed fee schedule. The proposed changes will increase the revenue to meet the demands of the legislation. As noted in a Montana Legislative Fiscal Division report in March 2022, state education agencies across the country have licensing fees that are subsidized in some states and unsubsidized in others, while frequently including a tiered fee structure for teacher and administrative licensing fees. Upon the Superintendent’s recommendation to the Board of Public Education (BPE) at its September meeting, the BPE must make a decision no later than December 1, 2023, per HB 403. The fees will be effective January 1, 2024.

For more information, please contact Christy Mock-Stutz, Assistant Superintendent, at christy.mock-stutz@mt.gov.

An online portal for school districts is open to provide current information about their school board trustees as directed in HB 811, sponsored by Rep. Marta Bertoglio. The required information collected was available on October 1, 2023, on the front page of the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) website. The purpose of the new repository is to enhance public awareness and involvement in school district governance.

The school trustee repository must include:

• a list of current trustees, including the terms the trustees are serving and, if applicable, the trustee’s district;
• contact information for current trustees;
• if the board of trustees maintains a website, a link to the website; and
• contact information for the school district clerk.

According to § 20-3-307, MCA, information is required to be updated within 14 days following the qualification and oathtaking of a newly elected trustee or for the filling of a vacancy on the board.

For more information, please contact Christy Mock-Stutz, Assistant Superintendent, at christy.mock-stutz@mt.gov.

Superintendent Arntzen has created a parent steering committee and has chosen five Montana parents to serve on the Perkins V Parent Steering Committee. The purpose of the steering committee is to help implement the federal Perkins V state plan for career and technical education (CTE). The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) opened applications on September 13, 2023, and received 13 applications. The five member steering committee members are:

• Brittani Hunter, a high school parent and Laurel School District Trustee from Laurel, MT
• Ben Meyer, an elementary and high school parent representing business and industry from Stevensville, MT
• Abe Wing, an elementary school parent and teacher from Polson, MT
• Shanell Marshall, a high school parent representing business and industry from Helena, MT
• Bobbi Klingaman, an elementary, middle, and high school parent representing business and industry and Tribal communities from Harlem, MT

During the 2022-2023 school year, the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) allocated $3.2 million to 147 Montana schools.

The first steering committee meetings was held on October 3, 2023. Click here to view the 2024 Montana Perkins State Plan Timeline.

Montana Ready has a new Facebook page! Please click here to follow for updates.

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen, along with Browning High School students, teachers, administrators, and Browning Public Schools representatives celebrated the 2024 Montana Teacher of the Year, Kevin Kicking Woman, at Browning High School on Thursday, September 28, 2023. Kevin is a Blackfeet Native American Studies Teacher at Browning High School in Browning, Montana. He will go on to represent Montana in the National Teacher of the Year competition.

Mr. Kicking Woman was unanimously selected after a highly competitive process. On September 12, the selection committee interviewed four finalists:

• Teresa Heil from Frazer
• Jacob Turcotte from Poplar
• Kevin Kicking Woman from Browning
• Tamara Fisher Alley from Polson

The selection committee was made up of representatives from the Office of Public Instruction, the Governor’s Office, the School Administrators of Montana, the Montana Board of Public Instruction, the Montana Advisory Council on Indian Education, and the 2023 Montana Teacher of the Year.

Kevin Kicking Woman (Kooki “Corner”) is an enrolled tribal member of the Blackfeet Nation. Kicking Woman served in the Navy for four years, based on the USS Sacramento, in Bremerton, Washington. Kicking Woman was honorably discharged from his service in the Navy with accommodations and Main Propulsion Engineering certification.

Kicking Woman has his teacher license, class 7 teaching certification, qualifying him as a
Blackfeet cultural teacher. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies and
Anthropology at the University of Montana in 2011, and earned his Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Cultural Anthropology, Linguistics, and Music Ethnology from the University of Montana in 2014.

Kicking Woman has dedicated his career to teaching, learning, and sharing knowledge. He has taught from elementary to university. He began his nearly 25-year teaching career at Browning Middle School, then as the Indian Education Director at Heart Butte Public Schools. He also taught at Loyola Sacred Heart High School in Missoula, Montana while serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana. Today, Kicking Woman teaches Blackfeet Language and Culture at his alma mater, Browning High School.

Kicking Woman has been raised, lives, and practices his Native ceremonies and traditions. He is an active member of many of the societies and bundles of the Blackfeet people. His passion for singing has brought him respect, acclaim, and knowledge. His singing, sharing, and teaching others has impacted and enriched many lives. Kicking Woman and his wife Joni have five children and one grand-daughter “Kooki” who is his pride and joy.

Superintendent Arntzen has appointed Jon Rutt of Laurel to fill the vacancy on the Community Choice School Commission. The position became vacant when the Superintendent’s initial appointee resigned due to time commitment constraints. Mr. Rutt will serve an initial term of three years.

“Community Choice Schools reflect Montana’s local accountability with strong family and community engagement,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The Commission will aid in expanding educational innovation and opportunity for all Montana children. I am pleased to appoint Mr. Rutt based on his vast experience and commitment to putting Montana students and families first.”

“I am honored and privileged to be appointed to this commission,” said Jon Rutt. “I look forward to participating in the next chapter of educating our Montana children."

Mr. Rutt and his wife owned and operated Aqua Systems of Montana from 1981 to 2018 and provided water treatment equipment and service to the entire state in the residential, commercial, industrial, municipal, and medical applications. They owned and operated a Car Wash in Laurel from 1985 to 2022, they also own and manage rental property. Mr. Rutt operates Jon Rutt Consulting, LLC providing services to the industrial, municipal, and medical field in the proper application of water treatment technologies. Mr. Rutt’s experience on various Boards includes:

• Board of Directors for the Billings Symphony 2005 to 2008
• Charter/founding board member and current Chairman of the Laurel Montana Community Foundation, Inc in 2015
• Montana Community Foundation board member from 2020 to 2022
• Laurel Park Board advising the City of Laurel for the last 5 years
• Laurel Fire District #5 board secretary/treasurer

Mr. Rutt has coordinated the compliance issues of a small business dealing with several regulatory agencies, and as a board member of 501(c)3 organizations, has been involved in philanthropy on the giving end along with fundraising.

In the 2023 Legislative Session, Montana lawmakers passed HB 562, authorizing the establishment of Community Choice Schools. Section 4 of the bill establishes the Community Choice School Commission, which is responsible for approving authorizers for choice schools throughout the state. All members of the commission must have a demonstrated understanding of and commitment to choice schools as a strategy for strengthening public education. Appointees must collectively possess substantial experience and expertise in board governance, business, finance, education, management, and philanthropy.

The first commission meeting was held on October 2, 2023 click here to watch the meeting.

Year II of the MAST program is underway! There will be five testing windows:

• Testing Window #1: October 23 - November 10, 2023
• Testing Window #2: November 27 - December 15, 2023
• Testing Window #3: January 29 - February 16, 2024
• Testing Window #4: March 11 - April 5, 2024 (ELA performance task)
• Testing Window #5: April 15 - May 10, 2024

Reminder: With full participation in year II of MAST, students will not be required to take the Smarter Balanced Assessment for Math and ELA grades 3-8.

MAST Pilot Opportunity:

Is your school district interested in piloting a version of the MAST Program? The MAST Form B Pilot Program includes:

• A Preview of the New MAST Program. As a part of the MAST Form B Pilot program, districts can sign up to participate in an end-of-year assessment and gain a sneak peek of the piloted through-year assessment in a more traditional end-of-year summative format. 
• Accelerated Results. Schools that participate will receive the student response report just two weeks after the testing window closes, instead of waiting for a traditional summer release. Performance Tasks score reports for ELA will be delivered at a later date. 
• Availability for Math and ELA. It's designed as a series of short tests, or “testlets,” making the testing experience more manageable for students. These assessments will be conducted over multiple days and encompass: 
• Math: 12 standard testlets comprised of 10 single/multipart items, and 1 "anchor" testlet comprised of 22 items. 
• ELA: 6 standard testlets comprised of 18 items and a writing performance task testlet comprised of 5 items with 1 writing task 
• Short Timelines. Assessment administration will take place during the last testing window, April 15 to May 10, 2024.
• No double-testing. With full participation in the MAST Form B Pilot, students will not be required to take the Smarter Balanced Assessment for Math and ELA grades 3-8.

For more information, see the MAST Bulletin or contact Tressa Graveley, Assessment Specialist.

Districts received embargoed test scores for the federally mandated end-of-year summative assessments on September 5, 2023. Test scores were made public on September 12, 2023. The comprehensive review of 76,000 students tested included:

• Math; grades 3-8
• English Language Arts (ELA); grades 3-8
• Science Assessment for grades 5-8
• 11^th grade ACT
• Alternative results in math, reading, and science assessment

The federal government requires 95% participation for the summative assessment. In the 2022-2023 school year, 98.5% of 3-8 grade students participated in the Reading assessment and 98.2% of 3-8 grade students participated in the Math assessment.

Reading proficiency for grades 3-8 was:

• 2022-2023 – 45%
• 2021-2022 – 46.1%

Math proficiency for grades 3-8 was:

• 2022-2023 – 37.5%
• 2021-2022 – 36.5%

During the 2022-2023 school year 92% of high school juniors completed the ELA portion of the ACT and 93.4% completed the Math portion. The average score for Montana was 19.4. Traditionally the national ACT college readiness average has been 22 out of a maximum of 36.

ELA proficiency for grade 11 ACT was:

• 2022-2023 – 53.4%
• 2021-2022 – 42.1%

Math proficiency for grade 11 ACT was:

• 2022-2023 – 30.3%
• 2021-2022 – 25.1%

The ELA and Math scores for grade 11 were the highest since the pandemic and ELA proficiency was at a historic high.

All test scores are available here.

For more information, please contact Cedar Rose, Assessment Director at cedar.rose@mt.gov.

Questions? Contact: 

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

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