State School Payments
The September State School Funding Payments for FY 2024 are posted at the following link: State School Payments
The October 26, 2023 payments include: Direct State Aid, Quality Educator Component, At Risk Component, Indian Education for All, Student Achievement Gap, Data for Achievement, State Tuition, and Special Education.
If you have questions regarding payments, please contact Laci Novark (406) 444-4401
FY2023 Monthly State School Payment reports are posted here.
FY2023 State School Payment summary reports are posted by County here.
State School Entitlements
The State School Funding Payments Entitlement for FY 2024 were posted at the following link: State School Payments>Entitlements
For more information, please contact Laci Novark, at (406) 444-4401 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
FY 2024 County Treasurer’s FP-6b
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has posted an update to the FY2024 Countywide School Funds – FP6b Version 1 spreadsheet. It can be found here under County Forms.
If you have questions regarding the update, please contact Autumn Belmont, Budget Analyst at (406) 444-9852 or send an email to OPISchoolFinance@mt.gov
Compensation Expenditures Reporting
Compensation Expenditures reporting is a process set up to assist schools with their responsibilities to be transparent with the use of public funds in accordance with 20-7-104, MCA. This reporting collects and reports information pertaining to all salaries paid to employees in the district in a fiscal year. Compensation Expenditure reports must be submitted by December 10th for the previous fiscal year’s data. Districts will be required to complete the compensation expenditures in TEAMS to finalize the fiscal year 2023 process. You will need to log into TEAMS to complete, this will be located at the bottom of the System tab called “Compensation Expenditure TOE.”
If you do not have access to TEAMS or are having trouble logging in, please contact OPITEAMS@mt.gov.
MAEFAIRS is now available to report the FY2023 Compensation Expenditure Report. The Compensation Expenditure report is due to the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) by December 10th, 2023.
The FY2023 Compensation Expenditure Reporting Instructions have been updated and are available on the OPI Website now.
For questions regarding Compensation Expenditure Reporting within MAEFAIRS please contact: Alivia Skeslien-Jenkins, 406-444-1964, Laci Novark, 406-444-4401, or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov
Requests for Changes to the TFS- Due Dec 10th
The following steps must be completed.
Step 1: On a photocopy of the originally submitted TFS printout:
- Cross out the amount to be revised
- Legibly write or type in the revised amount above or beside the original amount or submit a detailed Excel worksheet.
- Requestor must sign and date EACH page; and, complete and gather all signatures for the School Data Error Correction form.
- Send the request and form for changes to:
Montana Office of Public Instruction
Attn: Amanda Zigan
PO Box 202501 Helena, MT 59620-2501
Fax: (406) 444-3096
Email: OPISchoolFinance@mt.gov
Requests for changes can be mailed or scanned and emailed. All completed requests must be received by the OPI no later than December 10. (ARM 10.10.504).
Step 2: Email a copy of the corrected TFS to the county superintendent with an explanation of the requested
changes.
Step 3: After changes have been completed by the OPI, verify that changes have been made accurately and send confirmation to the OPI.
OPI Application Access Guides for NEW Clerks and Superintendents
The OPI has updated information for new:
To assist in getting set up with their new roles, please see the documents located on the School Finance webpage. For more information, please contact Amanda Zigan at (406) 444-3096 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
School Data Error Correction Request form - TFS Changes, ESSA Changes or other Revisions submitted to the OPI
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has a form to be completed when changes are made to financial-related data. The School Data Error Correction Request form can be found on the School Finance website and at the link above.
Please complete the following actions.
- Fill out the form with the necessary information and the appropriate signatures.
- Submit the Request form and the changes to the OPI – Requests for changes can be mailed, faxed, or scanned and emailed. All completed requests must be received by the OPI no later than December 10 (ARM 10.10.504). Changes can be made for:
- material revisions that do not impact fund balance of budgeted funds.
- Revisions in balance sheet accounts, provided no change occurs in the fund balance of budgeted funds.
- ESSA reporting is due with the submission of the TFS. Only minor changes to ESSA Per Pupil expenditures will be allowed.
- Please refer to the TFS instructions for additional information.
- The OPI will notify the school when the corrections are done. The school is responsible for verifying that changes have been made accurately and must send confirmation to the OPI.
For more information, please contact Barbara Quinn, at 406-444-3249 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Tuition Forms for Foster/Group Home (FP 14.2) - Completed and Entered to Maefairs
Student Attendance Agreements should be completed upon enrollment in a school per 20-5-322, MCA. Students who are in foster or group homes outside of their resident district should be entered into Maefairs as soon as they are approved by the attending district. This allows resident districts to review their obligations or verify their status as resident district – payments are due in the ensuing year. Please make sure to enter these agreements in a timely manner and run the Maefairs reports for resident districts. Please see the forms located under Tuition and Attendance.
For more information, please contact Andrea Mohammadi at (406) 444-1960, Barbara Quinn at 406-444-3249, or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Annual Driving Records
Annual driving records must be performed on all drivers to ensure compliance with School Bus Driver Qualifications in 20-10-103, MCA and 10.64.201, ARM.
Driving Records information can be requested through the Montana Department of Justice
For more information, please contact Donell Rosenthal at (406) 461-9316 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Passenger Manifests (TR2) Forms
The TR2 Bus Rider Form is a passenger manifest of all students being transported. This form shall be maintained and kept on board the bus with driver access when necessary and left with proper authorities at the school or institution as needed.
In the event of an emergency, the passenger manifest and/or seating chart, shall be made available to the investigating officer/emergency personnel upon request.
For more information, please contact Donell Rosenthal at (406) 461-9316 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Bus Driver Certificate TR35
School bus drivers must hold a valid Montana School Bus Driver Certificate (TR35) for a district to be eligible to receive state reimbursement.
Qualifications for bus drivers are prescribed by 20-10-103, MCA, and by the Board of Public Education in ARM 10.64.201. The bus driver certificate forms are provided and must be maintained electronically in the Pupil Transportation System.
The chair of the board of trustees must sign the certificate which is issued to a driver who is authorized and qualified to drive a school bus pursuant to all applicable rules, regulations, and laws. The district must retain a current copy of each bus driver's certificate, provide a copy to the bus service contractor, if applicable, and files a copy with the county superintendent. The bus driver is required to always carry a current and valid hard copy of the certificate while driving a school bus.
For more information, please contact Donell Rosenthal at (406) 461-9316 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Bus Route Change Requirements
When the board of trustees changes a route's mileage per day, or if a different school bus is used on the route, the trustees must approve the change in miles, submit it first to the county transportation committee for approval and then electronically submit a revised TR1 form to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by accessing the Pupil Transportation Portal.
The route (the area served and the miles per day) must be established by the board of trustees, by board resolution. 20-10-132 , MCA and 10.7.112, ARM.
For more information, please contact Donell Rosenthal at (406) 461-9316 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Audit Letter for FY-2023
The annual letter to auditors has been released and can be found on the OPI website by clicking this Audit link. The letter provides general information for the fiscal year 2023 regarding issues affecting Montana school district audits and special items the OPI would like auditors to review for compliance with statute and administrative rule.
For more information, please contact Kristen Becker at 406-444-0701 or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
Updating School Contact Information with OPI
PERSONNEL CHANGES: All school districts please go to the OPI website - Directory of Montana Schools - to verify your schools’ information.
Changes must be made by the Clerk in OPI Contacts for:
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Trustees (required by HB 811).
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Board chair.
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Clerk/business manager.
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Superintendent.
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Principal.
District Clerks are responsible for keeping their district’s contact information up to date. According to § 20-3-307, MCA, Trustee Contact information is required to be updated within 14 days following the qualification and oathtaking of a newly elected trustee or for the filling of vacancy on the board (the county superintendent is responsible for providing information to the district clerk for the purpose of updating the Trustee Repository). Contact information also affects the Budget and TFS reports as well as how the AR for OPI and E-Grants updates. The instructions on how to update your schools’ information can be found at the following link: Instructions.
For more information, please contact Amanda Zigan at 406-444-3096, or contact us by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.
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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