Standards Revision Updates:

• ELA:
• • The Writing Team of the English Language Arts Revision Task Force met at the State Capitol in Helena July 15-18th for the standards revision and writing workshop. Over the course of four rigorous days, the team produced a draft of revised standards that they sent to the Review Team for review and feedback.
  • The Review Team of the English Language Arts Revision Task Force met at the State Capitol on July 29th and 30th, to develop collaborative guidance for the continued revision of the ELA Standards by the writing team. Their feedback will be sent to the writing team the first week of August. 
  • The ELA Standards Review Team and delegates from the Writing Team will meet virtually for a Standards Revision Reconciliation on August 8th as they continue to refine the language that will guide ELA educators and families in their support of student learning. 
  • Collaboration and Reconciliation meetings will continue as needed throughout August. 
  • More information can be found on the OPI’s ELA Standards Revisions Webpage

• Math

  • The Montana Board of Public Education convened in July to review the Math Content Standards Proposals. OPI staff presented the most significant changes to the Board, and the adoption process is moving forward. 
  • Guidance documents are being created and made available to the public as soon as they complete final drafting. While the OPI must await the Board of Public Education’s final approval to proceed with some documents, drafts of documents minimally impacted by perspective changes are available on the OPI Website, with additional items in development. To stay up to date on these activities, and to access guidance documents, please visit the Mathematics Revision Website. 

• World Languages

• Action on the Proposed Notice of public hearing pertaining and timeline to rulemaking in ARM Title 10, chapter 54, World Languages Content Standards, and authorizing the filing of the notice with the Secretary of State for publication in the Montana Administrative register was approved by the Montana Board of Public Education and passed on without pubic comment. 

• ELP

• Action on the proposed notice of public hearing pertaining to rulemaking in ARM Title 10, Chapter 53, English Language Proficiency Content Standards, and authorizing the filing of the notice with the Secretary of State for publication in the Montana administrative register was approved by the Montana Board of Public Education and passed on without public comment.

Big Ideas & Content Area Updates

Registration Team Registration Flyer to Share

The 6th Annual STEM Summer Institute is a one-of-a-kind, Montana-made showcase for STEM integration across all grades and subject areas. You’ll enjoy exemplary K-12 STEM instruction and resources, inspiring national speakers, and Montana’s own Paul Anderson! 

Registration Fees:  $30 for MCTM members $50 for non-members, includes a year membership to MCTM  Register Now! The Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) invites you to beautiful Butte, Montana for the Montana Math Meet or MCubed on August 8-9.  MCubed is an annual gathering of Montana K-12 teachers of mathematics who come together to share powerful teaching-and-learning strategies.  MCubed is a grassroots conference - our keynote speakers are local experts.  All participants are also invited presenters who are encouraged to share mini-presentations about tips, tools, resources or techniques that have made a difference in their classroom.   Questions? matt.roscoe@umontana.edu

July’s volume of the MT Math Minute is live and ready to view!

Each month, our Math Coordinator compiles relevant features, classroom resources, and sometimes, teacher spotlights! This month’s edition covers Humanizing Mathematics and features a talented educator, ADRIANE TAILFEATHERS (MǍATSOŌWǍAK̇II), a 6th grade math teacher from Browning. To learn about what we mean when we suggest humanizing math, or to learn more about Ms. Tailfeathers’ use of Tribal Council Election data in her classroom, check out this quick read. 

Looking for professional learning but find it hard to find the time, money, or resources to commit to a full professional development event? Our content specialists are experimenting with a new approach to professional learning in the form of a 20 minute podcast series that you’ll be able to listen to on your commute(or during that walk around the track you plan to take during your lunch break). Be on the lookout for exciting new episodes where we will discuss topics that come directly from the field and address things such as educator self-care, the power of mentorship, overcoming burnout, as well as acceleration vs. remediation, differentiation, and yes, things like standards and instruction too! 

New episodes will be posted the last Monday of each month on the OPI K-12 Standards Webpage!

Hub Update

Teacher Learning Hub

Course Update:

The Introduction to Indian Education for All course is getting an update.

• The updated version of the Indian Education for All course will be available in early August
• The current version of the course will be retired on  July 31, 2024.

Coming soon: 

• MAST Assessment Training Courses will be coming soon.
• Courses will be specific to various roles:
• Administrators
• System Testing Coordinator
• Teachers

Early Literacy

Early Literacy Guidance Document Early Literacy Learning Series

Contact Information: Jackie Ronning/ (406) 438-0522/ jackie.ronning@mt.gov

Kimberly Evans/ (406) 594-7053/ kimberly.evans@mt.gov

Standards, Instruction, and Professional Learning 

Aimee Konzen, Professional Learning Manager,  406-444-3114

Allyson Fraser, HUB Instructional Coordinator, 406-444-3599  

Kate Gammill, HUB Instructional Coordinator, 406-444-0716

Katrina Engeldrum, Math Instructional Coordinator, 406-444-0706

Kimberly Evans, Early Literacy Research Analyst, 406-594-7053

Jackie Ronning, Early Literacy Coordinator, 406- 438-0522

Michelle McCarthy,  Science Instructional Coordinator, 406-444-3537

Stephanie Swigart, English Language Arts Instructional Coordinator, 406-444-0736

HUB Instructional Coordinator

Teacher Learning Hub Help Desk

Professional Development Unit Provider

Content Specialists

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.