HB 203: Out-of-District Attendance - D. Bedey

HB 203 generally revised education laws to enhance educational opportunities. This amended the title of 20-5-320, MCA, to be: Out-of-district attendance by parent or guardian request with no extenuating circumstances. In addition, this provides limited circumstances under which an out-of-district attendance application may be denied, as well as requiring the resident district to pay for resident children who attend out of district.

The OPI has:

• updated the Student Attendance Agreement Form, called Form FP-14,
• updated school funding formulas to reflect applicable tuition per- ANB amount as identified in the legislation, and
• is preparing draft guidance documents to be available soon for district trustees and schools.

HB 393:  Special Education Savings Account – S. Vinton

This act establishes a students with special needs savings account (ESA), including requirements for eligibility and allowable expenses, while outlining responsibilities for parents, school districts, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Keep up to date with information on the OPI’s website. This bill is effective July 1, 2024.

The OPI has:

• created the funding formula to determine school district remittance amounts per student,
• researched and reviewed other state education departments that have facilitated a savings account program similar to this legislation,
• created the ESA Steering Committee, a group of 15 parents and community members who will meet regularly to provide feedback, insights, and communicate with their communities to the OPI to support implementation, and
• is in the process of hiring a staff member to oversee the program applications and reimbursements.

HB 352: Early Literacy Intervention – B. Barker

The OPI is working diligently to prepare for the July 1, 2024 effective date of this bill that supports early reading interventions for eligible students aged four to entering third grade. It also places emphasis on collaboration between the OPI, the Board of Public Education (BPE), and school district trustees.  The bill provides for classroom interventions for 4-year olds, a jumpstart program for eligible student, and a home-based intervention program. 

The OPI has:

• hired two new full-time Early Literacy Specialists to help schools that are opting into the program understand the evaluation methodologies and identifying eligible students,
• created the OPI’s Early Literacy Collaborative is a group of ten educators and community members who meet monthly to provide feedback for implementation, and are
• drafting an RFP for the home-based program

HB 949: Data Modernization -  D. Bedey 

This amends section 20-7-104, MCA, and establishes an education and workforce data governing board which is administratively attached to the Department of Administration (DOA).

Please click here for the Current Legislative Report

For more information and all legislative reports, visit the Data Modernization website page.

Visit the OPI Data Definitions here.

For more information contact Rob Stutz- Deputy Superintendent/Chief Legal Counsel at 406-444-4399 or Rob.Stutz@mt.gov

HB 403: Educator Licensure Fee - D. Bedey

"As a teacher of 23 years, I am disappointed in the Board of Public Education's decision to raise taxes on our hard-working teachers. My proposed fee structure protected our teachers while following the law and fully funding our licensing system." -State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen

The new licensure fees took effect on January 1, 2024. The new licensure fees were set by the Montana Board of Public Education, per House Bill 403.

See new fee schedule here:

HB 36: Enrollment Increase Count- D. Bedey

The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is providing this notice of HB 36 (2023 Legislative session) that revises the funding for significant enrollment increases. HB 36 modifies section 20-9-166, MCA, to allow significant enrollment increase (SEI) payments as described below. It also repeals 20-9-314, MCA, which provided procedures for determining eligibility and the amount of increased average number belonging (ANB) due to unusual enrollment increase.

The SEI Calculation worksheet can be found on the School Finance website under State School Payments>Entitlements 

In general, the SEI payment eligibility process is described in the bill as follows:

• School districts that experience an enrollment increase based on the October enrollment count in the current year converted to ANB must be greater than the budget limitation ANB for the fiscal year three years prior by 110%.
• The SEI payment is described in HB 36 as an amount that is the difference between 80% of the district’s total per-ANB entitlement for that fiscal year using the most current October enrollment count minus the “absorption factor”, and 80% of the district’s initial per-ANB entitlement for that fiscal year.
• The absorption factor is defined as an ANB amount rounded to the nearest whole number equal to the sum of five ANB plus 3% of the district’s budget limit ANB for that fiscal year.

The timeline for the SEI payment is as follows:

• By December 1^st each year following the October enrollment count, the OPI must determine the school districts that qualify for a SEI payment.
• By December 15^th of each year, the OPI must notify schools of their eligibility for a SEI payment.
• No later than March 1^st, the trustees of a SEI payment qualifying district are to notice OPI of acceptance of all or partial amount of the allowable SEI payment. This is done by passing a general fund budget amendment.
• As soon as passed, the school district general fund budget amendment must be provided to the OPI.
• Upon successful completion of the budget amendment process, the OPI will begin distribution of the SEI payments using appropriation authority from the BASE aid appropriation in HB 2. This payment will be distributed to schools by the OPI in the following months along with the direct state aid payment.
• With the regularly scheduled June payment, all distributions of the SEI payment will be complete for the fiscal year.

For more information, please contact Paul Taylor, Senior Budget Analyst, 406-444-1257 or

 ptaylor2@mt.gov

Local Accountability: How Recent Legislation Affects Families, Students, and Communities.

 All discussions will take place from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Zoom and will be moderated by the Office of Public Instruction's Chief Legal Counsel.

The discussions times and topics are:

• June 21, 2023 - Comparing Charter School Bills: Public Charter Schools (HB 549) and Community Choice Schools (HB 562)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Comparison of Charter School Bills

• July 26, 2023 - Discussing Obscenity (HB 234), Notification Requirements (HB 744), and Religious Freedom (HB 745)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

• August 23, 2023 - Special Needs Equal Opportunity Act (HB 393)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

• September 20, 2023 - Parental Rights (HB 676 and SB 518)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary HB 676 |  SB 518  

• October 25, 2023 - An Act Providing That Use of a Name And Sex by a Student is not Discrimination (HB 361) & Board of Trustees to Adopt a Grievance Policy (HB 504)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

• November 29, 2023 - Protect Physical Self Defense in K-12 Schools (HB 450) and Defining Sex in Montana Law (SB 458)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

• December 13, 2023 - Early Literacy Intervention (HB 352)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

JOIN EACH MEETING HERE

We will continue these meetings in 2024. Our next discussion will be January 24, 2024.

For more information please contact Family Engagement Specialist  Kiera Moog  at

406-594-7135.

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen has hired Danni McCarthy as the Office of Public Instruction’s (OPI) State Special Education (SPED) Director. The SPED Director is responsible for managing the OPI’s special education unit, which is comprised of School Improvement, Continuing Education and Technical Assistance, Early Childhood Education, Data Systems and Reporting, Stipend Programs, Dispute Resolution, and the Early Assistance Program.

“Our students with disabilities are my number one priority,” said Danni McCarthy. “I look forward to working with our school districts, cooperatives, parents, and other stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for our students in Montana.”

Danni graduated from Carroll College with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. She graduated from Northwest Nazarene University with her Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership. Danni comes into this job with 20 years of experience in the field of special education. She was a special education teacher for 7 years and has been with OPI’s special education unit for 13 years in various roles, most recently as the fiscal and reporting manager.

14% of the student population are students with disabilities. We receive around $46M in federal IDEA funds. We are recruiting for open positions at OPI: Parent Liaison, Gifted and Talented Specialist, and the IDEA Fiscal & Reporting manger. 

For more information, please contact Patrick Cates, Student Support Services Senior Manager at patrick.cates@mt.gov or 406-594-9993

A big shout out to Helena Public Schools for incorporating more Montana-made foods in their school nutrition program and being featured in the national newsletter Nutrition and Dietetics SmartBrief! See KTVH's story, Helena Schools working to include more Montana produce and livestock in student meals.

Had a wonderful graduation of 105 students in Dillon at the Montana Youth Challenge Academy. Nine students received a MT diplomas: 10% of the graduating class. This was a bill we put forward with Representative Ken Walsh!  #MTproud

Remember the next testing windows are:

• Testing Window #3: January 29 - February 16, 2024
• Testing Window #4: March 11 - April 5, 2024  (performance tasks)
• Testing Window #5: April 15 - May 10, 2024

The first Montana MAST Through-Year Assessment Summit will be held on February 27, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Hosted virtually, this event is tailored to Montana school personnel involved in grades 3-8 assessment in preparation for MAST statewide implementation in the 2024-2025 school year. 

The agenda features engaging discussions with keynote speakers, including representatives from Education First, the Center for Assessment, and New Meridian. Topics range from the foundations of through-year assessments to Montana's MAST implementation.

Join participation-based sessions, role-alike discussions, and a panel on family engagement. The day concludes with insights into educator engagement, score report development, accommodations, and instructional utility.

For more information, contact Tressa Graveley, Assessment Specialist.

Purpose

The purpose of the amendment is to provide a tiered approach to Rigorous Action for schools previously identified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and that do not make adequate progress within three years. 

Current Montana State ESSA Plan: Describe the more rigorous interventions required for schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement that fail to meet the State’s exit criteria within a State- determined number of years consistent with section.

Schools making progress will continue with the OPI’s support. Schools not making progress will receive support through additional interventions and intensive support from a three-person OPI and district-level team. The goal is to have all schools within a high-priority district out of the bottom 5 percent within seven years. The high-priority district will exit a school from comprehensive support and improvement only if an individual school meets the exit criteria identified.  (Page 32-33).

Below is the proposed amendment to the ESSA plan for rigorous action:

Through a differentiated approach, schools making progress towards meeting exit criteria will continue with OPI’s support. When adequate progress towards established improvement goals is not being made, the OPI will collaborate with each school district to identify necessary actions and/or interventions that need to be considered. These include but are not limited to:

• Conduct a diagnostic review
• Participate in strategic improvement action planning with all stakeholders, consisting of but not limited to: Students, Families, Community Members, Tribal Elders, Knowledge Keepers, School Board, & Staff to include:
• Identification of strengths, challenges, & goals
• Recruitment and Retention strategy
• District Capacity Review
• Curriculum Alignment
• Data-Driven Decision-Making
• Elevating and empowering student voice
• Direct use of resources/funds
• Assigned systematic coaching for operational, instructional and leadership components
• Assigned targeted professional learning.

Process and timeline

August 8, 2023:  9:00 - 10:00 a.m.  - Task Force meets

August 22, 2023: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Task Force defines Rigorous Action and reports on research

September 5, 2023: 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. - Finalize Rigorous Action Plan

September 12, 2023: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Give feedback on Amendment for ESSA Plan

October 4, 2023: 2:45 p.m. - Share draft with MACIE

October 11, 2023: Public Comment Opens

October 11-26, 2023: Rigorous Action Feedback Form

October 23, 2023: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - Webinar for public comment ZOOM Link

October 26, 2023: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - Webinar for public comment ZOOM Link

October 30, 2023: 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Respond to public comment ZOOM Link

November 10, 2023: public comment closes

November 2023 to January 2024: share information with Board of Public Education, Education Advocates, Governor's Consultation

February 2, 2024: Final Draft prepared and submitted to the Department of Education

Please click here to leave feedback.

For more information, please contact Carrie Kouba, Innovation and Improvement Senior Manager, at Carrie.Kouba@mt.gov

Reminders:

• ESSER II- schools expenditure reports are submitted

Thank you to Victor, Evergreen, Corvallis, and Frenchtown school districts for their examples of ESSER processing support documents which are posted on ESSER website under 'stories'.

There are still Afterschool and Summer School grants available with a continued focus on math and literacy. Data on 2022-2023 Afterschool and Summer School grants is:

Questions? Contact: 

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