The OPI will once again open applications for a $10,000 - $20,000 tobacco use prevention grant for Montana schools and school districts. The application period for this grant will run from February 19 through March 1, 2024.
Completed applications will be scored according to:
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School/District Need - Based on 2021 and 2023 YRBS data, student discipline referrals around tobacco use and application narrative.
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Inclusion of Restorative Discipline Practices - These links may be helpful: Addressing Tobacco Use in Montana Schools with Restorative Practices and Restorative Practice Resources.
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Prospect of Success - Based on well-thought-out procedures and ease of implementation.
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Sustainability - The district intends to continue and/or adapt to improve its tobacco use prevention program.
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Alternatives to Suspension - Out of School Suspension will not be utilized for a primary tobacco/vaping-related disciplinary action.
For more information and a link to preview the application click here.
Contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or 406.444.0785 with any questions.
The results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) conducted in the Spring of 2023 will be available to most individual schools the second week of January 2024. We had initially anticipated the release of this data to be in the early fall of 2023, however, findings for some school districts were delayed and won’t be available from the CDC until February. We are currently moving forward to release individual results to participating schools and we hope to be able to publish statewide data soon.
The 2024 School Health Profiles survey will be sent to schools in late January. We ask that school administrators and lead health educators complete this survey to help identify the efforts Montana schools are making to mitigate risks identified by the YRBS.
If you have any questions about the YRBS or School Health Profiles, feel free to contact Genie Zeeck at genie.zeeck@mt.gov or 406.444.3178.
Tracking Tobacco Products
Share the Flyer!
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In an effort to understand and document the rapidly changing tobacco product marketplace and patterns of tobacco use among young people, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have awarded funding for a new project – the Center for Rapid Surveillance of Tobacco led by the Rutgers Center of Excellence in Rapid Surveillance of Tobacco.
The project is launching a system to track tobacco/nicotine products that have been found in schools across the country. Please share this flyer with your networks to help spread the word about the project. The attached flyer includes more information and a QR code to submit photos of products easily. Information about confiscated products can also be shared on this website.
If you have any questions, contact Jessie Jensen at: jessie.jensen@rutgers.edu
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Title IV-A Safe and Healthy Students- Stronger Connections Grant
Through the 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 was in addition to the Title IV, Part A funding already allocated to the Montana OPI and 95% of these funds were made available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) through a competitive subgrant application. The competitive grant application was awarded in July of 2023 for program activities to be implemented in the 23-25 school years.
All grant applications were graded by three different individuals from across the state of Montana. The Office of Public Instruction was able to fully award or partially award (at 60%) 25 different LEAs. LEAs are implementing their programs and can process cash requests now through E-Grants. All LEAs were required to participate in a fall meeting and had one-on-one meetings with the Title IV-A Program Manager, Paige Sedahl throughout November. LEAs were required to complete their first of four school climate surveys due in December 2023. LEAs were able to choose their school climate survey and will need to administer the same survey in May 2024, December 2024, and May 2025 to effectively compare data.
The next steps for LEAs will be to participate in a required spring meeting, complete a continuing application on E-Grants, upload the end-of-year report, and administer their next school climate survey before May 6th. The continuing application has a projected opening date of April 29th and a projected closing date of June 4th, 2024. In the continuing application, LEAs will update their budget and provide the OPI with a 24-25 school-year action plan.
If you have any questions regarding the Stronger Connections Grant, please contact Paige Sedahl, paige.sedahl@mt.gov or Michelle Cusey, michelle.cusey@mt.gov.
Lesson Plan:
The Risks of Vaping Magazine
As educators, you play active roles in helping your students resist using any tobacco products. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) research suggests that when teachers talk about the health consequences of vaping, and schools enforce anti-vaping policies, students may be less likely to vape. Helping youth understand the risks of vaping can help promote a lifetime of healthy behaviors and choices.
The FDA's Vaping Prevention & Education Resource Center offers age-appropriate, cross-curricular resources to help teens learn about the dangers of vaping. Lesson plans, activities, infographics, and videos, encourage students to analyze information, collect and share data with their peers, and critically assess the marketing tactics used to promote vaping products.
Middle and High School health educators may find The Risks of Vaping Magazine lesson plans helpful.
Contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or 406.444.0785 for more information.
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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