Education Data Collection Team (EDUCATE)
February 2026 Compass
February is a big month for data collection. Districts must report their Spring ANB in a short time frame in order to provide data for Preliminary Budget Data sheets that are statutorily required to be published by March 1st. Additionally, districts will be completing requirements for Accreditation. Please take note of the due dates and reach out for assistance early in the process.
The Education Data Collection Team serves Montana students by assisting education agencies with Infinite Campus data reporting and providing accurate and timely education data to other OPI units for state and federal reporting.
Infinite Campus Data Collections
The Data Collection Schedule contains a complete list of all data collections occurring throughout the year. The 2025-26 Data Collection Calendar is now posted to the website!!
February Data Collections:
Spring Student Count for ANB: February 3 - February 12, 2026
The Spring Student Count for ANB is the second of two collections primarily used for calculating ensuing year budgets. Districts must verify Primary and Secondary enrollments for eligible PK special education students, students in grade KG through 12, students aged 19/20 who meet Student Count for ANB eligibility requirements, Job Corps & MT Youth Challenge students, eligible students participating in an Early Targeted Intervention Classroom-Based program, students participating in the Education Savings Account Program, and Early Graduates. If students have both a Primary and Partial enrollment, verify that Aggregate Hours are not greater than
1.0, review attendance and exclude students absent 11 or more days as of the count date, students participating in private, non-sectarian day treatment programs, or KG students under 5 enrolled without board approval. Jumpstart (summer Early Targeted Intervention) and Extracurricular participation (from the prior year), certified in earlier collections, are appended to the current year Student Count for ANB. Review
Student Count for ANB eligibility requirements for students participating in fully remote programs. no longer enrolled in school (graduate or dropout).
*Pay special attention to mid-year grade level changes, students who complete graduation requirements after the October Count Date, but prior to the Spring Count Date, and students who transfer near the Count Date (run the State Enrollment Overlap report daily).
Spring Teacher Class: February 3 - February 27, 2026
Verify Courses and rosters from the Fall Count Date through 2/2/2026, including State Courses Code (SCED Subject Area and Course Identifier), Grade Low/Grade High, Credit (for HS courses), Course Level, Dual Enrollment, Distance Class,
Alternative Education, Work-Based Learning, CTE Pathway, Session Type, Session Number, Section Placement, Section Staff History (Primary Teacher and other staff for classroom overload), and student rosters (Start Dates for students who enrolled after the start of school and End Dates for students who have exited). Teacher-Class data is used for compliance with Accreditation rules, state and federal reporting, and CTE
funding.
Assessment Windows
ACCESS for ELLs: January 5 - March 6, 2026
The WIDA ACCESS, WIDA Screener, and new in 2025/2026, the WIDA Alternate Screener, is the English Language Proficiency assessment for academic achievement reporting for English Learners (ELs) in Grades K-12. The WIDA ACCESS is used to provide state, district, school, and individual student achievement information on the state-adopted content standards in English Proficiency. It is used by the state to provide a consistent picture of student proficiency and progress in academic English across Montana's public schools and private schools seeking accreditation. It is an important measure for understanding comparisons between schools, over time, and for gaining understanding of equity in educational services.
To ensure students are assessed, process transfers in and out as quickly as possible.
MAST Test Window 2: January 12 - March 6, 2026
The second round of MAST tests are administered to appropriate students in grades 3 - 8 during this window. Ensure that all student accommodations are finalized and
entered prior to this window and that all appropriate students are registered prior to
this window. Process transfers (in and out) as quickly as possible.
To ensure students receive appropriate accommodations, please do NOT change accommodations for testing students during this window.
DLM Alternate Math, ELA, and Science: February 2 - May 15, 2026
The spring round of the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate math and ELA testing for students in 3 - 8 and 11th grades who are a part of the SwSCDs student group and Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate science testing for students in 5th, 8th, and 11th grades who are a part of the SwSCDs student group. Process transfers (in and out) as quickly as possible.
Ensure that all student accommodations are finalized and entered prior to this window.
Student Records Transfers
Student records transfers are an important tool for ensuring that students receive the proper services as soon as possible after transferring to a new district. A records transfer is automatically initiated when a student is new to the district and enrolled using the Student Locator Wizard. When a student has been previously enrolled in the district or the district uses the file upload process, a records transfer must be initiated manually (Student Information>General>Records Transfer - New State Transfer Request). Important elements to import include Special Education records (ER, IEP, SPED Documents), English Learner (EL) status, and Enrollment History.
New Data Validation & Certification Process
There's a new look (and functionality!) to the Data Validation & Certification process. Infinite Campus has made significant changes to Certification process. Districts will be using that new functionality for both the Spring Student Count for ANB and the Spring Teacher Class collections. Infinite Campus documentation specific to the district process is available in the Campus Community Knowledge Base. New EDUCATE User Guides will be available mid-January. We are hopeful that this new functionality will greatly enhance the Certification process, making it easier for districts to complete data certifications and increasing the accuracy of those collections.
CTE Extended Contract Days
Extended Contract Days for CTE Teachers (reach out to your CTE specialist for more information on what qualifies as Extended Contract Days) has been a separate collection for the last several years. This information is now collected in the educator's District Assignment in Infinite Campus. Please review the District Assignments for educators with Extended Contract Days to ensure they are accurate for 2025-26 (this may require ending a prior Assignment at the end of 2024-25 and creating a new assignment for 2025-26, if the contract days are different for 25-26 than they were for 24-25).
Contact the EDUCATE Unit at (406) 444-3800 or
opiaimhelp@mt.gov for assistance.
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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