The Frontier Learning Lab (FLL) is Montana Digital Academy’s new statewide learning lab for cutting-edge learning tools—a place where teachers and students can explore artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and other emerging tech without leaving Big Sky Country. Anchored in the values of expanded access, strong privacy, and solid learning science, the Lab serves as a central hub that curates tools, surfaces best practices, and sparks practical innovation in every corner of the state, from bustling city schools to the most remote one-room classrooms. For more information on how you can utilize this first-of-its-kind tool in your Gifted and Talented efforts, visit the MTDA website. They want to be your thinking partners!
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 Infinite Campus now requests that an evaluation date be entered for each GT identified student. This effort to record more accurate data allows for a GT designation to follow a student throughout his or her school career after identification. Schools will not have to check a box over and over in the enrollment section each year.
Some of your students have been identified for a long time. If you know or can reasonably estimate the date that the student was evaluated (based on your universal screening grades, for example), please enter that information into the system so future school staff will have as clear a picture as possible of the student. If you do not know the exact evaluation date for students identified before this school year, you may enter June 30, 2025 so that we know that evaluation happened some time prior to the upcoming school year. Do your best for the students with the time and records you have.
Contact Jenny Jarvis for the instructional slides that describe the process for entering the new evaluation information.
MTSS is a school-wide, multilevel instructional framework for supporting the needs of students. This framework incorporates universal screening, progress monitoring, and data-based decision-making for instruction and movement within the multilevel system. The system works equally well for addressing the needs of highly capable students and those who experience learning difficulties. The MTSS model assumes that each student receives high-quality, research-based, differentiated instruction from a general educator in a general education (classroom) setting. Find out more on the OPI Gifted and Talented Training Site (Gifted & MTSS tab).
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Did you know that MIT offers access to high-level content through its OpenCourseWare site? They also have a special page for educators looking for OER (open educational resources). They have free interactive modules, lecture videos, and online textbooks. Consider exploring their resources for materials that might be appropriate to help meet the unique needs of your gifted learners.
2023-2025 Gifted and Talented State Grant Districts, we apologize for the delayed opening of your closeout documentation, the GT State Grant Program Report.
We are still working to get the Program Report open in E-Grants. We will notify districts via email as soon as you have access to begin completing the forms. In the meantime, please make sure you have gathered the information required for accountability to the legislature. We compile a report for legislators regarding the effect of the GT State Grant funds they approve as part of the budget.
As you prepare to complete this report, please gather information in 3 key areas:
- Number of identified gifted students you actually served using grant funds.
- Progress on the program objective(s) that you outlined in the grant application. You will need to provide data for this part of your report. Also, please make sure that the language of your original objective(s) in the application matches the language in the Program Report.
- A detailed description of your use of the local match funds. Your description must include numbers, the actual amount of funds spent in each category.
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Questions about Gifted and Talented in Montana?
Contact:
Jenny Jarvis, GT/MTSS Program Support Specialist, 406-410-1140
Tammy Lysons, CETA Unit Manager, 406-431-2309
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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