Updates from the IEFA Team

Indian Education For All Updates 

Increased Accountability and Reporting Requirements

• As a result of legislative updates to 20-1-501, MCA have worked to increase our IEFA reporting requirements regarding appropriate uses of funds. 
• In addition, as part of accreditation requirements all schools must submit an Integrated Strategic Action Plan that includes specific examples of how they are implementing IEFA. 

IEFA Professional Development

• IEFA staff are working to support schools based upon the new ISAP data to provide relevant support.  We collaborate with a variety of statewide partners to assist in our ongoing implementation efforts.
• Recently revised our PD supports so we can better provide relevant and ongoing IEFA supports for staff beyond the “one and done” workshop. 
• IEFA on-line supports include webinars featuring cultural presenters from MT tribes.  
• • IEFA YouTube channel hosts 310 videos with over 50,000 views.
  • Over 100 model lesson plans for various content areas and grade levels. i.e. We have 110 lesson plans just for Social Studies.
  • Native Film Club partnership with the Big Sky Film Festival featured 3 Native American documentary films that were viewed by 2,744 students in 42 schools across Montana.
  • Ongoing work to incorporate IEFA into our accreditation and content standards and statewide assessments.Approximately 60 in-person and virtual presentations during the last school year for over 2600 teachers and students.
    • 6 Teacher Learning Hub courses – The Introduction to IEFA Course has had approximately 10,000 teachers complete it since 2016.  During the 2024/25 school year 1807 teachers completed IEFA hub courses.
    • The 2025 Best Practices had approximately 200 attendees and it featured 47 workshops that covered a wide range of topics.

    IEFA Curriculum Resources

  During the 2024- 2025 school year 323 teachers took one of our recorded webinars. The IEFA Unit has over 80 on-line webinars posted on our website that cover a wide range of topics from boarding schools, ethnobotany, tribal sovereignty and teaching about contemporary issues.

YouTube Channel Are you looking for engaging and informative resources to improve your IEFA background knowledge and improve your teaching? Check out our YouTube Channel for engaging IEFA content and a wealth of classroom materials to deepen understanding and enhance your teaching.

Questions about funding? Be sure to look at our IEFA funding guidance regarding the use and reporting of IEFA funds

IEFA Finance Reporting Update FAQ

IEFA ANB Reporting Guide

HOW TO - IEFA PAYMENT: REPORTING GUIDE

If you have any questions, please reach out to one of the IEFA team members. Contact information can be found here. 

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.