2026 Montana Disability Employment Summit

May 13-14, 2026
Montana Blue Cross/Blue Shield | 3645 Alice Street, Helena

OPI Summer Institute June 15-18, 2026

MSU Campus - Bozeman, MT

$69 Registration Now Open

NEW SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT:

June 18 Keynote: Dr. Matthew Burns, University of Florida Literacy Institute

Keynote:  What to Do When the Interventions Didn't Work

Workshops: Using Data at Tier 1 and Tier 2 & How Do You Know if the Intervention is Aligned to Science? 

SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS | MONDAY, JUNE 15

• Best Practices for Sped Processes: From Evaluation Plans to Secondary Transitions including PWN, Jillian Bellah, Danni McCarthy, & Crystal Wright, OPI
• “Let Me Put My Glasses on So I Can Hear You!”  Improving Outcomes for Students with Sensory Impairments and High Intensity Support Needs, Kerri Norick &  Alice Anderson, MSDB and Theresa Baldry & Kari Tarter, UM Rural Institute
• Full Day: CPS-flavored BIPs: Ross Greene’s Plan B Collaborative Discussions as an Alternate Component of a Behavior Intervention Plan, Dr. Daniel Hyson, University of Wisconsin

SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS | TUESDAY, JUNE 16

• Writing PLAAFPs and MAGs, Crystal Wright & Jillian Bellah, OPI
• My Student is turning 18! Supports for Decision Making, Theresa Baldry, UM Rural Institute & Isaac Baldry
• Parents as Partners: Promoting Collaboration, Mandi Gibbs, Annette Gorton, Marvin Williams, Kathleen Nerison, Linda Maass, OPI
• Different by Design: Honoring Student Strengths While Building Belonging, Sara Cole, Kalispell Public School

SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

• The Road to Adulthood Starts Early: Using Montana’s Family Guidance Tools to Support Successful Transitions, Heidi Gibson, Jean Schroeder, Montana Empowerment Center
• Special Education and ELL in Montana, Jillian Bellah, OPI
• Overview of School District Early Childhood Special Ed Requirements, Lucy Beltz, OPI

SPECIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS | THURSDAY, JUNE 18

• Building Better Behavior in the Classroom, Lacey Cole, Kalispell Public Schools
• Introduction to Data-Based Individualization (DBI), Sheila Lovato, AIR Research
• Access for All: An Overview of Effective Inclusive Practices for Students with Significant Disabilities, Lacey Cole, KPS
• Designing and Delivering Effective Specially Designed Instruction with Data-Based Individualization, Sheila Lovato, AIR

$69  OPI SI 2026 Registration NOW OPEN 

Graduate credit and campus housing available for an additional fee. 

Special Education Paraprofessionals:

Para Pathways Project Level 1: 

PPP Level 1 includes 40 LRP Modules completed online. The current incentive pay structure of $20/module will change after July 1, 2026.  Funds will be paid per module as long as funds remain in the project through June 30, 2026.  Changes on the new structure will be shared in June.  

Para Pathways Project Level 2:

For Paras interested in Level 2 for Fall 2026 at Dawson Community College, you will need to have all 40 Level 1 modules completed and submit a 1000 hours verification form as well as enrollment paperwork for DCC by the end of July 2026.  Spaces are limited so apply early to make sure you secure a spot!

Sped Tech License Update: 

ARM 10.57.431 Special Education Technician License- Class 9 is effective May 1, 2026. Applications for Sped Tech licenses will be available in Teach MT this summer. 

Para Pathways Project Level 3: 

There is funding in the State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) to support working paraeducators with tuition towards becoming a fully licensed special education teacher in Montana. Application coming soon for Level 2 completers.  Existing PPP Level 2 candidates can reach out to Tammy Lysons for more information. 

Find more information the Para Pathways Project on our website. For any questions regarding the program, please contact DCCParaPathways@dawson.edu or Anne.Carpenter2@mt.gov.

Local District Recognition of Paraeducators We encourage schools and cooperatives to recognize the outstanding work of their paraeducators.  Please email Tammy Lysons for Fillable PDF copy of the 2025-26 Paraeducator Recognition Certificate signed by Superintendent Hedalen so you can recognize the outstanding contribution of paraeducators in your building.

CSPD Training Opportunities

Region I CSPD Summer Institute

Featuring Genevieve Thomas, Spark Educational Consulting in Partnership with School Services of Montana June 1st - June 4th | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | GLENDIVE Dawson County High School Cafeteria JUNE 1 | How Well I Teach - How Well They Learn: Explicit Instruction research, elements, principles, teaching skills and strategies. JUNE 2 | Teaching Vocabulary and Knowledge: Explicit Instruction practices This 2 day workshop offers a deep dive into Explicit Instruction as a powerful, evidence based approach to improving student learning across content areas and grade levels. participants will strengthen their instructional delivery and leave with concrete strategies, tools and plans for integrating Explicit Instruction into daily teaching. JUNE 3 | Evidence-Based Strategies for Designing Intensive Instruction Data-Based Individualization is a systematic method for intensifying instruction within MTSS.  The Steps of the DBI process will be learned and explored to address persistent learning challenges. Participants will learn to apply DBI by adapting interventions in group size, instructional strategies and materials. Participants will leave with greater confidence and practical strategies for supporting students who need more intensive individualized instruction. JUNE 4 | Evidence-Based Writing Instruction-Research to Practice Come to explore best practices for writing instruction grounded in research and application by examining key findings on effective writing instruction and daily application. The Writing Rope will be the guiding framework.  Educators will leave with practical tools and a clearer vision for strengthening writing instruction in their own classroom.

Region V 10th Annual Summer Institute 

Tuesday, June 9, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | POLSON

Red Lion Ridgewater Inn & Linderman Elementary Library

Featuring:

1. Powerful Teaching K-12 with Carrie Cole (located at the Ridgewater Inn)
2. Regulate Before you Educate with Stacey York Nation (located at the Ridgewater Inn)
3. Creating a Culture of Success PK - 2nd with Stephanie Lester (located at the Linderman Elementary Library)

Talk That Transforms Learning: Practical Strategies to Build Student Voice, Vocabulary, and Comprehension 

Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | EAST HELENA

Prickly Pear Elementary

Presented by Stephanie Lester

Back to School with Kids These Days

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | GREAT FALLS

MSU-Great Falls, Heritage Hall

Presented by Stacy York Nation

9 Essential Skills for the Love and Logic Classroom

Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | GREAT FALLS

Great Falls Hampton Inn

Presented by Joe Moriarty

Conscious Discipline

Thursday, August 6, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM |HAVRE

Best Western Plus Havre Inn & Suites

Presented by Angela Fraley

Differentiation-Structured for Success: Building Data-Driven Small-Group Systems 

Monday, August 10, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | EAST HELENA

Radley Elementary School

Presented by Stephanie Lester

Teaching and Learning Fractions Through Discovery & Reasoning

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | BILLINGS

Room 122 in the College of Education at Montana State University Billings

Presented by Dori Phillips

Tier 3/DBI District Grant Opportunity

For districts demonstrating that they already have a functional MTSS framework in place, OPI will offer coaching and stipends for Tier 3 Intensive Interventions and Data-based Individualization (DBI). This work will also include training on high-quality and person-centered IEPs.  A link to the application is available below and on the OPI MTSS website.  Link to the DBI Grant Informational Webinar recording Link to the DBI Grant Informational Webinar slides The DBI application is DUE MAY 6 by 5:00 p.m. Contact Jenny Jarvis or Tammy Lysons if your district would like additional information.

Montana Empowerment Center

"EMPOWER HOUR" Spring Webinar Series  REGISTER HERE: Eventbrite link Wednesday, May 13 @ 12:00pm Financial Trusts and MATL Loans - Melissa Hoffman, RDI Financial Learn about financial trusts and low interest loans for assistive equipment.

SAVE THE DATE:

Mountain West Neurodiversity Conference

Meeting Every Mind: Making Connections

August 19-20, 2026 @ Montana State University Billings

Join us as we begin the 2026-27 school year with a fresh perspective, renewed inspiration, and actionable strategies to support neurodiverse learners in Montana public schools.  Keynotes and special guests include Dr. Ross Greene, Benergy, and Michelle Garcia Winner.  Conference Highlights include breakout sessions, panel discussions, exhibit hall, cross-role collaboration opportunities, and Family Day August 21st. 

Questions and information, contact Amanda Stonerock, MSU Center for Inclusive Education Director, or Katie Mattingley, Statewide Coordinator of the MAEP. 

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.