- 25th of Each Month- Deadline to submit cash requests for processing and payment on the 10th of each month.
- June 1- Last day to submit an amendment for Perkins Grant.
- June 10- deadline for the last June payment. If your district has not completed a Cash Request, it MUST be in by this date.
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- June 20- CTE End of Year Data Collection is DUE in Infinite Campus.
This is a Federal Reporting Requirement for all Federal Grants, failure to complete this report correctly will result in loss of eligibility to receive Perkins funding. Completing this report late, will result in inaccurate reporting from Montana and will elevate the districts Risk Assessment.
- June 30- the last day to encumber spending for Perkins FY 26 funding
- August 10- Perkins 2026 Final Expenditure Reports are due. If you are late submitting your FER- it will result in keeping the entire state from receiving final allocations
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We have scheduled several dates to provide focused technical assistance for transitioning to the new Montana Career Pathways, CTE Date and Perkins Applications Support. The following dates and times will be available for districts to get targeted CTE support, from 10 am - 2:00 pm. As always if you need additional support please reach out to anyone on our team and we can set up another time. |
Perkins and Data Collection Focused Technical Support
- Wednesday, May 6th
- Wednesday, May 13th
- Wednesday, May 20th
- Wednesday, May 27th
- Wednesday, June 3rd
- Wednesday, June 10th
- Wednesday, June 17th
- Wednesday, June 24th
- Tuesday, June 30th - Perkins Apps Due
Topic: CTAE Technical Assistance
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91271668254?pwd=4ryRN6Gj5oiOv34k10Pw224HsZBDki.1
Meeting ID: 912 7166 8254
Passcode: 046242
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A few notes to help in this completing the CLNA process:
Please review past CLNA information to help inform this year's process. You can access your previous CLNAs in EGrants.
Use advisory committee meeting notes from the past year, use information you can easily find online (like the MT Labor Market Information site), use emails, conversations, and other meetings you have been to over the past year.
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Montana Regional CLNA Guide
Resource Document - Helpful Links - Regional Meetings
The Perkins grant itself will have some different CLNA Summary questions. We have pulled those out so that you can prepare answers for those questions as you work through finishing your CLNA packet. Perkins Grant FY 27 Summary Questions.
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Bozeman, MT, March 19-20, 2026 – (FCCLA) 2026 State Leadership Conference (SLC) in Bozeman,
MT drew over 700 members, advisers, and supporters from across the state with opportunities for
personal development, career exploration, and community service. |
The event was made possible through a sponsorship by the Montana State University College of Education, Health and Human Development.
Throughout SLC, attendees participated in a variety of activities. The keynote speaker was Mike Hall,
and workshop session presenters Included Chef Eduardo Garcia of Montana Mex, and Lindsey Cobble
and Brooklynn Gross of FCCLA's Leadership Training Team. |
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Workshop sessions focused on a variety of topics including personal development, leadership training, career development, and physical and mental health resources.
While at the conference, students competed in career-focused STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) Events, where students showcased their efforts and accomplishments in areas including career development, community service, personal growth.
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Events also included student projects In areas related specifically to Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) content including child development, nutrition and wellness, personal finance, fashion design, interior design, and career development.
Participants earn a bronze, silver, or gold medal based on their competition performance. Collectively, participants in the 2026 competition earned 82 gold medals, 129 silver medals, and 62 bronze medals, with 108 members qualifying for advancement to the FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this July. |
One component of the conference activities included the Montana ProStart/FCCLA culinary and management competitions held at Gallatin College. Culinary students from seven Montana schools competed in both culinary and management competitions, with industry experts critiquing their performance.
The event was made possible through a sponsorship by the Montana State University College of Education, Health and Human Development and the Montana Restaurant Association Foundation.
Reece Taylor from Conrad High School was recognized as the MT BPA Student of the Year, Monica Tomayer of Conrad was recognized as the Advisor of the Year, Andrea Blouin of Missoula Sentinel was recognized as the Emerging Advisor of the Year and Jacquie Bymaster and Beth Huguet were inducted into the Montana BPA Hall of Fame.
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Throughout the day, ProStart-confirmed schools all across the state brought teams ready to demonstrate the workplace skills they had gained throughout involvement in the program.
For the 2026 culinary competition, nine schools competed with another four entries for the management competition.
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Results of the Culinary competition included a second place finish by the Billings-Skyview team, and a first place finish by the Belgrade Team. The Management competition results included a second place finish for Belgrade, with Billings-Skyview taking the first place honors.
The ProStart program serves secondary students in Montana schools and Is sponsored by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation through a partnership with the Montana Retailers Association, preparing secondary students for a smooth transition into the hospitality industry. |
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Additional activities for conference attendees included participation in a series of career preparation workshops, chapter leader training, and an FCS Career Connection training, comprised of a series of three focused trainings designed to help students increase overall career preparedness as well as explore potential careers related to fields of early childhood education and culinary arts. Professionals
from all across the state supported this training by engaging with attendees during the training and providing feedback regarding challenges designed to simulate workplace situations.
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Serving others was another major component of the conference. Participants created welcome kits to
benefit the clients of Haven in the Service Room, as well as welcome home baskets to support those
transitioning to domestic independence after a stay at Haven. Attendees also volunteered during the
Service Road Trip at Haven. Additionally, attendees donated over $1000 to Haven through the Miracle
Moment collections.
The Industry Immersion Tour offered attendees the opportunity to learn more about area businesses. The tour included stops at Buff City Soaps, The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC),and Aurore Bakery.
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Many generous sponsorships helped to support this conference. Platinum-level conference sponsors included the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development, Gallatin College MSU, and ProStart. Gold-level conference sponsors included Montana Pork Producers, Rocky Mountain Credit Union, Eduardo Garcia, Bequet Confections, Zwilling/JA Henckels, and the Montana Department of
Labor and Industry.
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The Montana Department of Transportation, Reach Higher Montana, BlueCross BlueShield of Montana,
Town Pump, Costco, and Comfort Inn Bozeman all partnered with the group to sponsor outreach
projects and/or awards for chapter local outreach projects this year.
MDT also presented the Vision Zero awards at the conference, recognizing chapters implementing projects targeted to teens with the goal of reducing distracted driving. MDT grants provided funding for chapters to develop these projects and also awarded cash prizes to the top three applicants.
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Funding from Reach Higher Montana and BlueCross BlueShield Montana funded local chapter grants for outreach projects through FCCLA’s Career Connection National Program, supporting local outreach projects all across the state.
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FCCLA members also networked with fellow youth leaders and learned more about future career and
college options during the Conference Expo/College & Career Readiness Fair featuring such participants as the Montana Digital Academy, Montana Department of Transportation, Montana State University-Northern, Montana State University Department of Education, Montana State University College of Education, Health and Human Development, Montana State University Billings, Great Falls College, Miles Community College, Reach Higher Montana, Gallatin College, University of Montana/Missoula College, Montana Trucking Association, Zwilling JA/Henckels, |
Local Energy Dealer Fundraising, Success N Fundraising, Bequet Confections, Career Lab/Career Development Team, Haven, US Army, and Morris Brown University.
Those in attendance at SLC exemplified Montana FCCLA’s conference theme, “Leaving Legocies” and shared how they utilize the skills, experiences, and knowledge gained through FCCLA to make a difference in their families, careers, and communities. |
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As the conference came to a close, new members were elected to the Montana FCCLA Board of Directors, and the State Executive Council was
installed. Hannah Murnion, a student from Harlowton, was elected as the Montana FCCLA State President for the 2026-27 year.
The rest of the council includes: First Vice-President Harper Icopini of Forsyth, Vice President of Finance Daisy Anderson of Polson, Vice-President of Membership Gracie Bassett of Manhattan, Vice-President of Competitive Events Wyatt Williams of Ennis, Vice-President of Programs Bailee Wirtzfeld of Wibaux, Vice-President of Community Outreach Averee Matthews of Malta, Vice-President of Public Relations Griffin Wiens of Plentywood, and the Vice-President of Parliamentary Law Jessica Toeckes of Power.
About FCCLA
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Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is a dynamic and effective student-led
nation-based organization supporting youth on their journey to become the leaders of tomorrow and
helping them address important personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences education. |
FCCLA has over 250,000 members and more than 5,700 chapters from 47 state associations, the American Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations because its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical intracurricular student organization with a central focus on careers that support families. Participation in national FCCLA programs and chapter activities aids members in becoming strong leaders in their families, careers, and communities.
- If you have not investigated Montana Options for your school district, I would encourage you to think about it to serve those students who are credit deficient. Our HSE Administrator has been working on updates for Montana Options, while they are still “under construction” this might be a great time to meet and discuss the possibility for your school district.
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High School Equivalency page
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EMAIL HAILEE TO SECURE YOUR SPOT
AT HAILEE@MTAGC.ORG
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April 20, MONTANA SkillsUSA career and technical education students from across the state earned top honors at the 2026 State Leadership and Skills Conference, held in Great Falls, MT at the MT Expo Park Pacific Steel & Recycling Arena on April 7-9th.
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The annual SkillsUSA conference showcased the talent, dedication and technical excellence of 327 middle, high and college level students competing in 36 trade, technical and leadership events. The event highlighted the very best of career and technical education (CTE) in MONTANA, preparing students for high-demand careers and strengthening the future workforce. |
During the competition, students worked against the clock and each other, demonstrating their expertise in fields such as firefighting, computer-aided drafting, carpentry, welding and culinary arts. All contests are designed and judged with the support of industry partners, trade associations and labor organizations, ensuring alignment with real-world workforce standards. Leadership contestants also showcased critical soft skills through events such as extemporaneous speaking and parliamentary procedure.
Community Service Impact A key highlight of this year’s conference was a statewide community service project, where students collaborated to give back to the Darby Realtors Association. Participants contributed their time and skills to this year’s project included crafting and designing personalized “Welcome Home” signs for new homeowners—an effort that truly reflects the spirit of service and community connection., reinforcing SkillsUSA’s commitment to service, leadership and responsible citizenship. |
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Industry Expo Impact
New this year, SkillsUSA Montana enhanced the State Leadership Conference experience by introducing hands-on workshops led by industry professionals, complementing the expanded Industry Expo. Students had the opportunity to engage directly with leading organizations such as Williams Construction, which brought heavy equipment simulators, and the Red Horse Air Force Base Squadron, offering interactive skills simulations. Additional partners including Morton Buildings, TDS, FedEx, Montana State Fund and many more vendors provided valuable one-on-one interactions, giving students real-world insight into career pathways. These additions significantly enriched the overall student experience, helping participants explore opportunities and gain clarity on their future in the workforce.
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Design Competitions Showcase Creativity
The conference also featured highly competitive design contests that emphasized creativity, branding and technical skill:
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· Pin Design Contest: Students from middle school, high school and postsecondary divisions created original state-themed pins that represent MONTANA and its workforce identity. Winning designs will be produced and traded at national events, showcasing student creativity on a national stage.
- Middle School Winner: Samuel Bennett, Darby
- High School Winner: Brooke Skov, Savage
- Postsecondary Winner: Kaitlyn Tabbert, MSU Northern
· T-Shirt Design Contest: Students designed official conference apparel that captures the spirit of SkillsUSA and the state association. Designs were judged on originality, visual impact and representation of the SkillsUSA mission.
- Middle School Winner: Emmy Russell, Plains
- High School Winner: Austin Hackel, Darby
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Champions Night Inspires Attendees
A highlight of the conference was Champions Night, featuring a motivational speaker who inspired students to pursue excellence and resilience:
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Hoan Do, known for his appearances on American Ninja Warrior, shared a powerful message about perseverance, overcoming obstacles and striving for personal growth.
Susie Hedlund, Superintendent of Schools for Montana, spoke on the importance of education, leadership and preparing students to meet workforce demands across the state
Recognition and Awards
Top student winners received gold, silver and bronze medallions. Many were also awarded prizes such as tools of their trade and over $234,000 in scholarships from MSU Northern and WyoTech to further their education and careers.
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The annual championships event includes middle school, high school and college/postsecondary students who are members of SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA MONTANA serves 443 students across 36 schools in 33 counties. Members consistently demonstrate professionalism, leadership and technical excellence through year-round engagement. |
State gold medalists are eligible to compete at the national SkillsUSA Championships, to be held in Atlanta this June.
For the full press release and contest winner names please click the button below.
Teacher of the Year
Post Secondary: Steve Wodrich, MSU Billings City College
High School: Kent Sheble, Valier High School
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is the nation’s leading workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. Serving more than 413,000 students and teachers nationwide, SkillsUSA represents 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3-D animation to welding. Since 1965, the organization has served over 15 million members and continues to play a vital role in closing the skills gap.
For more information about this year’s events and winners, contact:
Montana SkillsUSA State Director Email statedirector@skillsusamontana.org
Learn more at skillsusa.org [skillsusa.org] and follow SkillsUSA Montana on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
The CTE Specialists have been assigned regionally to schools. The regions are Eastern, Northcentral, Northwest, Southcentral, and Southwest. These assignments will be used to review the 2025- 2026 Perkins Grant application and any remaining 2024-2025 amendments.
If you have any questions or need assistance, our team of specialists is available to support you. Map Key can be found below.
 Map Key
Shannon Boswell (Purple) - Career Technical and Adult Education Director
Gayla Randel- South West (Orange) -Family and Consumer Sciences Specialist
Eric Tilleman - North Central (Green) - Agricultural Education Specialist
Tammie Ellington - South Central (Gray) - Health Science Specialist
Kaitlin Trutzel - North West (Blue) - Industrial Technology Education Specialist
Ethan Igo - Eastern (Magenta) - Business Education Specialist
Montana Colleges & Universities (Gold Stars)
For questions, please contact:
OPI CTE Unit General Questions
Shannon Boswell, Career Technical and Adult Education Director
Eric Tilleman, Agriculture Education Specialist
Tammie Ellington, Health Sciences Education Specialist
Kaitlin Trutzel, Industrial Technology Education Specialist
Ethan Igo, Business Education Specialist
Gayla Randel, Family & Consumer Sciences Education Specialist
Katie Madsen, Adult Education Director/ High School Equivalency Administrator
Emily Fuller, Adult Education Program Specialist
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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