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Dear Colleagues,
This week, the U.S. Department of Education took steps to reduce bureaucracy and return more control over education to the states. According to the Department of Education these changes were planned to ensure they do not disrupt funding or critical services for students and families but instead empower local schools and communities.
I want to reassure Montana educators and families that funding for elementary and secondary education remains unchanged. We were informed that Elementary and Secondary Education Act's (ESEA) title formula funding, discretionary grant programs and staff were not impacted, meaning these resources will continue to flow without disruption.
We have also received notice that special education services and vocational rehabilitation programs remain fully intact, ensuring continued support for students with disabilities and their families. Additionally, the administration of Title III English Language Acquisition programs is also returning to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.
These changes aim to cut through federal red tape and give our state the flexibility to better serve students in ways that align with the unique needs of our communities. As I have often emphasized, reducing micromanagement from Washington allows teachers to focus on what truly matters, getting back to the basics. This sentiment is echoed in the latest letter from the Department of Education, “Teachers, too, will benefit from less micromanagement in the classroom, enabling them to get back to basics and focus their attention on students.”
There have been a few changes in our federal-level partnerships. We are now receiving timely updates from our new points of contact at the Department of Education. The impact on employees at the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has been minimal, and there are currently no plans for staff reductions. At Montana OPI, we stand ready to take on the increased responsibilities to continue serving our students, teachers, and administrators effectively.
As we monitor the effect of these changes, I will continue advocating for our schools to ensure these changes bring real benefits to our educators, students, and families. My focus remains on expanding opportunities, improving academic outcomes, and resources directly to the classroom.
Sincerely,
Susie Hedalen
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Questions? Contact:
McKenna Gregg, Communications Director
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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