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As the first year of implementation comes to a close for Early Literacy Targeted Intervention programs, we want to thank you for your work. We have truly enjoyed working with district/ school leaders, teachers, and staff and getting to know your schools and communities. We are looking forward to continuing our work and supporting you as you grow your programs into the future.
Governor Gianforte has signed House Bill 338. We will be incorporating guidance and professional learning on Early Numeracy in our work. Check our website for information as we work through the additions and develop further guidance.
Did you miss Data Collection #2?
Data Collection #2 has been sent to schools. As part of the reporting requirements for Early Literacy Intervention programs under 20-7-1803, MCA, we must collect data on their efficacy. A PDF version of Data Collection #2 can be found here so you can view the questions before submitting via this link. If your district participated in any early literacy intervention programs this year or intends to enroll students in early literacy intervention next year, please complete data collection #2 by June 20th, 2025. If your district did not provide any programs, the survey will not continue once you have indicated as much.
The Early Targeted Intervention Learning Series
Home-Based Program
We have updated the process for requesting Waterford licenses for the 2025-26 school year.
- The district representative will indicate on Data Collection #2 that their district/school will offer the home-based program for the 25/26 school year.
- Students with an eligibility record, enrollment in a home-based calendar, and who have the home-based early literacy box checked on their enrollment in Infinite Campus are eligible for a Waterford license.
- OPI will generate a weekly report of student eligibility records and allocate Waterford licenses to districts on a first-come, first-served basis.
- OPI will send a report of students eligible for a license to Waterford (student name, school, grade level, and parent contact information).
Call for ELTI Program Highlight Videos
Memorandum -- Let us highlight your Early Targeted Intervention programs.
Professional Development Opportunities
Check out these links for upcoming events!
Hiding in Plain Site
Montana Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD)
Big Sky Literacy Summit: Language is Everything!
Waterford
Click here for more information on Waterford, Montana OPI’s partner in Home-based Early Literacy. For more information, contact Beck Eberhardt, School Relations Director, at BeckyEberhardt@waterford.org or (701)261-8888.
- July 27, 2025, is the last day for student access to Waterford for this year.
- Information on how to enroll newly eligible students for 2025-26 is forthcoming.
 Contact Information
Visit the Early Literacy website, call or email us anytime.
Jackie Ronning
(406) 438-0522
jackie.ronning@mt.gov
Kimberly Evans
(406) 594-7053
kimberly.evans@mt.gov
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Professional Development Requests
Fill out the PD Request Form to request specialized professional development from the Standards, Instruction, and Professional Learning Team at OPI (expected time: 10-12 minutes). This request form serves as an opportunity for school districts to communicate their needs for additional professional development opportunities in the area of K-12 Education.
Once a request is submitted, OPI's Standards, Instruction, and Professional Learning Team will review the request and consider the next steps. Follow-up communication will be had directly with the party submitting this form unless otherwise indicated. If this request is being made less than thirty days from the requested professional development day, please understand that there is a small chance our specialists will be available.
OPI Learning Opportunities Portal
The OPI Learning Opportunities Portal was designed to create a one-stop hub for professional development opportunities available to educators across Montana. This platform brings together workshops, training sessions, and events from the OPI as well as a variety of other professional learning providers from around the state.
Since its launch, the portal has become an invaluable resource for connecting educators with the development opportunities they need. We invite administrators, school staff, and external providers to share their upcoming events on the portal, helping to consolidate all available resources in one easy-to-access location. We also encourage you to share this information with your educators, ensuring they have the opportunity to explore and take advantage of the many professional learning events available to them.
Explore the portal here: OPI Learning Opportunities Portal
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Satchel: Montana Content Standards
Check out all current Montana content standards on Satchel! Satchel allows you to see standards in 13 separate content areas. Content standards are organized by grade level and feature drop-down menus to locate individual standards and easily navigate among them without having to scroll through pages-long documents. Content standards also feature links to related documents, such as proficiency descriptors for English language proficiency.
The Last Best Learning Podcast
The mission of the Last Best Learning Podcast is to deliver digestible and relevant professional learning that honors educators’ capacity in an increasingly busy world.
Our state’s educators empower minds, elevate futures, and inspire self-discovery--and we walk beside them.
We invite you to join us in this innovative approach to professional development, tailored to address the unique challenges faced by educators in Montana's ever-changing educational landscape. At the end of each month, the podcast will be uploaded to the K-12 Content Standards webpage as well as the Podcast YouTube channel.
Coming Soon
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Indigenous Knowledge in Action: Harnessing the Power of Play with Special Guests Rebecca Goff and Megan Callahan from Native Teaching Aids
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Social Emotional Learning: More than Just Chair Yoga with Principal Rhiannon Beery and Superintendent Darin Hannum of Bainville Public Schools
Previous Episodes
- Ep. 10 - ALL IN! Your Students, My Students, Our Students, with Special Guests Dr. Douglas Fisher and Dr. Nancy Frey
- Ep.9 - Learning is Human: AI in Education, with Special Guests Jason Neiffer, and Connor Mulvaney
- Ep. 8 - Data Matters: Protecting Student Privacy in a Digital Age with special guests Cathleen Kuchera, West Valley School District and Kiki Moses, Cayuse Prairie School District
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Ep. 7 - Every Voice Every Day: Embracing Diversity Through Inclusive Instruction with special guests, Carrie Owen, Rebecca Turk, and Aria Peters
- Ep. 6 - Family and Community Engagement: Building a Sense of Belonging with Special Guest Nichole Pieper
- Ep. 5 - Every Voice, Every Day: Addressing an Expanding Need in Montana With Special Guests Serena Wright and Allyson Fraser
- Ep. 4 - Hometown Mentorship: The Teacher Residency Program - Applying theory into action with special guests Angie, Carol, and Marci from Browning School District
- Ep. 3 - Hometown Mentorship: A Polson Case Study with Special Guest Michael Sitter
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Ep. 2 - Bridging the Gap: Self-Care, Resiliency, and Educator Retention
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Ep. 1 - Self Care for Educators with Special Guest John Sommers Flanagan
- Ep. 0 - Orientation!
Math
New Resources have been added to the math standards revision website including:
- PK-12 Guidance Document
- One-pagers to support district communications with stakeholder groups
- Tools to support alignment work
- Recommended pathways, course alignment, financial literacy guidance, and more!
Register for the Montana Math Monthly Implementation webinar now!
Register for the Big Sky Standards: Real World Data webinar series now!
STEM
Register now for the 2025 STEM Summer Institute: July 28-30 at MSU in Bozeman
Get involved with the Montana STEM Ecosystem: Reach out to Heather Jameson (heather@mtafterschoolalliance.org), Strategic Initiatives Lead
Keep updated on:
Find many other resources and opportunities on the Montana OPI Science Page.
ELA
Check out the Montana OPI ELA page to view updates on standards revisions and learning opportunities available this summer!
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ELA Standards
The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has completed its work revising the English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Content Standards. Recordings, agendas, and meeting minutes for all sessions can be found on the ELA Standards Revisions Webpage. Additionally, the proposed standards were presented to MACIE in March and the Board of Public Education in May.
Check out the Montana ELA & Literacy Standards Revision Overview one-pager for an overview of the proposed revisions!
More information can be found on the OPI’s ELA Standards Revisions Webpage.
Math Standards
The Board of Public Education has determined that more time should be allotted for district implementation of the new math standards. The new implementation date is July 2026!
Professional learning is ongoing! Keep an eye out for opportunities at conferences and on the mathematics revision webpage to learn more about the new standards.
Guidance is being developed as we speak. To stay informed, visit the mathematics revision webpage. All published guidance documents will be visible on this page as they become available.
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