October 2022 Compass

OPI Compass

September 30, 2022

 

Calendar of Events
Teacher of the year

On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, Superintendent Arntzen presented Catherine Matthews with the 2023 Montana Teacher of the Year award. Catherine is a preschool special education teacher at Hyalite Elementary School in Bozeman. A record number of 57 teachers were nominated from around the state to receive this award. The four finalists were:

  • Shelia Devins from Seeley Lake
  • Kris Gulman from Hamilton
  • Catherine Matthews from Bozeman
  • Jake Warner from Helena

Congratulations Catherine! Read the press release here.

 

State Superintendent’s Message

assessment

Click here to listen to Superintendent Arntzen's message on innovative assessments in Montana!

 

Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) Pilot Program

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The first testing window for the MAST pilot program will begin in November. Montana students and teachers demand a growth model of assessments that provides immediate feedback on learning and accurately measures student success. The OPI set a participation goal of 30 districts and 3,200 students. Of the 3,200 students, there will be 1,600 students in each 5th and 7th grade taking both the math and reading tests. As of September 30, there are 44 participating districts and over 5,000 students. These districts are:

1. Fairview Consolidated Schools

10. Montana City 

19. Glendive 28. Frenchtown School District 37. Box Elder

2. Geyser 

11. Arrowhead 20. Havre 29. Livingston 38. Malta

3. Hamilton School District

12. Belgrade 21. Kalispell 30. Ulm 39. Elder Grove

4. Lockwood K-12

13. Cohagen 22. Bigfork High School 31. Big Sky 40. Shelby

5. Frazer Public School

14. Harlem 23. Ronan 32. Culbertson 41. Boulder Elementary 
6. Poplar 15. Power School District 24. Winnett 33. Fair-Mont-Egan School District #3 42. Fort Benton 
7. Stanford 16. Savage 5. Alberton K-12  34. Roberts 43. Evergreen K-8 

8. Billings Public Schools

17. Turner 26. Arlee Elementary 35. Rapelje 44. Frontier Elementary 
9. Butte School District 18. Whitefish 27. Circle 36. Kila

 

 

In Montana, we put our students first. Superintendent Arntzen believes that this model will put student ownership into assessments and more so into what our students are learning. This will also honor the good work of teachers in the classroom. Thank you to all of our school districts that chose to participate in this innovative pilot program!

For more information, please contact Deputy Sharyl Allen at sharyl.allen@mt.gov or (406) 444-5648.

 

2021-2022 Summative Assessment Scores for 3-8 Grade and 11 Grade Montana Public Schools

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The summative assessment to measure Math and Reading, or English Language Arts (ELA), proficiency in grades 3-8 and 11 and is required through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The federal Department of Education did not issue any waivers during the 2021-2022 school year as in the previous two school years.

The federal government requires 95% participation for the summative assessment. In the 2021-2022 school year, 98.2% of 3-8 grade students participated in the Reading assessment and 96.7% of 3-8 grade students participated in the Math assessment.

Reading proficiency was:

  • 2021-2022 – 46.1%
  • 2020-2021 – 46.4%

Math proficiency was:

  • 2021-2022 – 36.5%
  • 2020-2021 – 35.6%

During the 2021-2022 school year 90.5% of high school juniors completed the Reading portion of the ACT and 91.9% completed the Math portion. The average score for Montana was 18.6. Traditionally the national ACT college readiness average has been 22 out of a maximum of 36. The Montana Board of Regents adopted new admission requirements on May 27, 2021, where the need for students to provide ACT or SAT scores for admission to its campuses is not required.

For more information contact Chris Noel, Teaching and Learning Senior Manager, at chris.noel@mt.gov or (406) 444-2765.

 

Chapter 55 – School Quality

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After more than 30 years Montana's School Accreditation standards are changing to prioritize student learning. During the September 15, 2022 Board of Public Education meeting the board finalized the timeline for Chapter 55, which included opening the recommended changes for public comment. The Montana Administrative Procedure Act (MAPA) process for public comment will open on October 7, 2022, and will close on November 4, 2022.

To view a five-page summary of the rule changes, please click here.

 Board of Public Education Timeline on Proposed Chapter 55 Rules:

  • Proposal notice to SOS for publication in MAR September 27, 2022
  • MAR publication of proposal notice October 7, 2022
  • Public hearing date October 31, 2022
  • Final public comment deadline November 4, 2022
  • Draft Notice and Economic Impact Statement to Interim Committee Before Nov. 7, 2022
  • Adoption notice to BPE for consideration/respond to comments Nov 17-18, 2022
  • Interim Committee Meeting December 7, 2022
  • BPE authorization to publish adoption notice, including comments and responses January 12-13, 2023
  • Adoption notice to SOS for publication in MAR January, TBD 2023
  • MAR publication of adoption notice January, TBD 2023
  • Effective date of rules July 2023

For more information, please contact Dr. Julie Murgel, Chief Operating Officer at julie.murgel@mt.gov or (406) 444-3172.

 

Opening of the Math Teaching and Learning Standards

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Superintendent Arntzen is focused on getting back to the basics of Math and Reading. Statewide Math assessment scores show 36.5% proficiency in the 2021-2022 school year. Montana must do better. The Superintendent is working to review the state content standards for Math and is requesting that these standards be opened for revision. State content standards for Math haven’t been revised in over a decade. Revising our Math content standards and creating Math Innovation Zones while growing Montana’s professional development for Math will help grow the confidence of both our students and teachers. Montana has 11 teaching and learning standards. Superintendent Arntzen has revised five of these standards:

  • Social Studies
  • Career and Technical Education
  • Library Media
  • Computer Science
  • Technology Integration

If you are interested in joining the Math Content Standards Steering Committee, please contact Chris Noel, Teaching and Learning Senior Manager, at chris.noel@mt.gov, or (406) 444-2765.

 

Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief Funds - ESSER

Reminder: The federal COVID relief ESSER I funding cycle closes today, September 30, 2022. The Final Expenditure Report (FER) for the ESSER I grants must be submitted through E-Grants no later than October 25, 2022.

In full transparency, OPI has provided a monthly report highlighting state and district allocations, expenditures, and balances for ESSER I, II, and III funds. To view the monthly school district allocation report, please click here.

esser status report

Thank you for joining the September ESSER Virtual Guidance Sessions on September 20-23. There was a total of eight sessions, covering Allowable Use, Amendments, Cash Requests, and the Capital Expenditure Process. We had a total of 59 people attend the virtual conference sessions, including school district superintendents, clerks, and trustees, as well as other community stakeholders.

During October 17-21, 2022, there will be another week of training for our school districts:

  • Monday 17th Data Collection (Annual Report)
  • Tuesday 18th Amendments & Cash Requests - Prep and Processing
  • Wednesday 19th E-Grant Errors
  • Thursday 20th ESSER ARP Plan Updates
  • Friday 21st Audit & Compliance

For more information on ESSER trainings please click here.

For more information, please contact Wendi Fawns at wendi.fawns@mt.gov.

 

Purple Star Schools and Champions Applications are Now Open

Purple Star Logo

The Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) and the Montana Office of Public Instruction are accepting applications and nominations for Montana’s Purple Star Schools and Purple Star Champions Awards.

The Purple Star Awards recognize Montana schools and individual champions committed to supporting military-connected children and their families. MIC3 and OPI are opening the application process for the third annual award season to designate Montana Purple Star Schools. This is the second school year Montana’s MIC3 will be accepting nominations for the Purple Star Champions Award.

Nominations for both awards will be accepted from September 15, 2022, to November 30, 2022. The awardee will be announced in December 2022. Please visit here to consider nominating any schools or champions for a Purple Star Award.

For more information, please contact Brian O’Leary, Communications Director, at brian.o’leary@mt.gov or (406) 444-3559.

 

2022 Fall Montana School Law Conference

The School Law Conference will be held in-person at the State Capitol in room 303. To watch a live-stream, please click here.

law conference

For more information on the presenters click here.

For more information please contact Heather Davidson, Administrative Assistant, Heather.Davidson@mt.gov or (406) 444-4402.

 

Special Education Community of Practice 2022-23

Hope logo

These meetings are one-hour sessions held with OPI experts on Special Education on the second Thursday of the Month from 3:30-4:30. There will be a short 10-20 minute presentation on a topic followed by a discussion around that topic. The purpose of these meetings is to provide technical assistance and support for Special Education teachers as well as help build a network for teachers throughout Montana. October 13, 2022 :

 Presenter – JP Williams, OPI’s State Director of Special Education

To register, please click here.

For more information, please contact Anne Carpenter, Program Support Specialist, 406-465-0922.

 

Next Virtual Job Fair

job fair

Registration link will be available soon here.

 

U.S. Presidential Scholars Program Now Open for Nominees

presidents

The OPI is accepting nominations by the end of November for the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The OPI must nominate 20 students and 5 CTE students for consideration.

In the general category, we encourage you to nominate students who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, but who might not otherwise be nominated through the current SAT/ACT, Arts, or CTE recognition processes.  All high school seniors graduating between January and August of 2023, who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible.  The candidates will go through the application process, and as in the past, the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion.

All high school seniors who are participants of a CTE program graduating between January and August of 2023, who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and who attend public, parochial, or independent schools, as well as those who are home-schooled, are eligible.  Candidates who are nominated and choose to apply, and whose applications are complete, will be reviewed by a committee of qualified individuals experienced in career and technical education.  The committee will choose 60 applicants to be named as semifinalists.  The 60 CTE semifinalist applications will then be reviewed by the Commission on Presidential Scholars.  All 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars will be selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars and will receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion.

To see eligibility requirements please click here.

To submit CTE students please contact Austin Schweitzer, CTE Marketing Coordinator, at austin.schweitzer@mt.gov.

To submit student information for the general category please contact Brian O’Leary, Communications Director, at brian.o’leary@mt.gov.

 

Christmas Cards for Members of our Armed Forces

xmas soldier

Please consider participating in sending Christmas cards to our soldiers overseas. This is a great project for your district, school, or classroom to show support for our military families this year. The guidelines are easy – please address the card to “Dear Warrior,” and write a holiday greeting or personal note while signing your first name and hometown. Sign the cards mutually as a group, or individually. You may write as many as you want – the sky is the limit! Cards should be no larger than an 8x11-size paper folded in half. Envelopes are not required, however, if you have one, please do not seal it or address it. The deadline to send cards is Nov. 18.

Cards should be sent to:

Laura Landerman-Garber

Holiday Card Challenge

PO Box 103 Hollis, NH 03049

 

If using FedEx or UPS, please address to:

Holiday Card Challenge

5 Hutchings Drive Suite 100 Unit

103 Hollis, NH 03049

For more information, please watch this video or visit https://militaryholidaycardchallenge.com/

 

New Clean School Bus Grants Available

bus

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking applications for clean school bus funding from school districts statewide. The grants will help school districts replace older diesel school buses with newer diesel, gasoline, propane, or electric models to help reduce air pollution.

Older diesel buses release nitrogen oxides which can lead to asthma and respiratory illnesses, especially in children and the elderly who are known to be at increased risk. DEQ’s Clean School Bus Replacement program aims to reduce kids’ exposure to harmful diesel exhaust from old diesel buses across the state.

The grants awarded by DEQ are funded through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.

Grant applications are due Nov. 15, 2022. For more information on the application, please visit: Alternative Fuels & Transportation | Montana DEQ (mt.gov)

 

Free High-Speed Internet

internet

As America’s kids get back to school and continue to recover from the challenges of the pandemic, ensuring that all families have access to affordable high-speed internet is more important than ever. That’s why we are writing to make sure you know about a new federal program available to the kids and families you serve: Millions of families can now get free, high-speed internet through the Affordable Connectivity Program by signing up at GetInternet.gov [getinternet.gov].

Here is the U.S. Department of Education’s [whitehouse.gov] Affordable Connectivity Program “Back to School” Toolkit [whitehouse.gov], which provides actionable recommendations – and a ready-to-use Backpack Flyer – that schools and community partners can use to help students and their families sign up.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) provides eligible households up to $30/month off internet bills (or $75/month on Tribal lands), as well as a one-time $100 discount off a laptop, tablet, or computer. To further lower costs, the Biden-Harris Administration secured commitments from internet service providers across the country to offer high-speed plans that are fully covered by the ACP – meaning millions of working families can now get high-speed internet without paying a dime.

Nearly 40% of U.S. households qualify for ACP, but millions of families have yet to claim their benefit. Households are eligible if they make up to 200% of the federal poverty level ($55,500 for a family of four), and are also eligible, regardless of income, if they participate in certain federal programs. Critically, households qualify for ACP – without regard to income – if any member of the household:

  1. participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch or Breakfast program, including a child who attends one of the over 33,000 Community Eligibility Provision school [frac.org]s; or
  2. is receiving a Pell Grant this school year.

Families also qualify if someone in the household participates in Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, WIC, Supplemental Security Income, and other programs.

The OPI is conducting a 30-second Broadband Survey for Schools in order to elevate Montana schools’ current broadband needs. The OPI and the Department of Administration have partnered with Summit Consulting to help improve internet access in Montana, please help by taking a 10-minute survey.

For more information on broadband in Montana schools please contact Victoria Hoefler, Broadband Data Specialist, at victoria.hoefler@mt.gov.

 

Tachau Teacher of the Year Award Nominations for History Teachers

history

Do you know an outstanding history teacher? Then nominate them for The Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau Teacher of the Year Award which is given annually by the Organization of American Historians in recognition of the contributions made by precollegiate teachers to improve history education within the field of American history.

Nominations are due by November 1, 2022. Click here for nomination forms.

 

The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative – FOSSI

stem

The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) is a $40,000 scholarship program for students who plan to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs.) 

  • Graduating high school seniors are eligible to apply. Applications close on February 15, 2023
  • Each FOSSI scholar is awarded a $40K scholarship ($10K per year, for four years), offered leadership development, mentoring and internship opportunities with program sponsors, and access to AIChE student networking events.
  • Application requirements are listed here.
  • Questions can be directed to FOSSI@americanchemistry.com.

 

Reminder: Constitutionally Protected Prayer Guidance Certification

The 2022-2023 deadline for submission of information regarding local educational agency (LEA) constitutionally protected prayer certifications required as a condition of receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) is October 1, 2022. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools:

  • By October 1 of each year, as condition of receiving funds under the ESEA, an LEA must certify in writing to its SEA that no policy of the LEA prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools as set forth in the Guidance. 

Please submit your information to Brian O’Leary, Communications Director, at brian.o’leary@mt.gov.

 

2022 Blue Ribbon School

blue ribbon school

Congratulations to Monforton Elementary School, a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School. Monforton Elementary School in Bozeman has consistently high summative assessment scores in math and reading as well as staffing consistency. The leadership of Principal Laura Axtman has helped her school achieve this prestigious award!


Click the links below to see updates from OPI's units.

Accreditation & Educator Preparation

Achievement in Montana (AIM)

Assessment

Career, Technical and Adult Education

Coordinated School Health

Educator Licensure

Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER)

Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS)

Gifted and Talented

Indian Education for All

Montana Autism Education Project

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

School Finance

School Improvement

School Nutrition

Special Education

Standards, Instruction & Professional Learning

Title & Federal Programs

Traffic Education

Transformational Learning & Advanced Opportunities

Tribal Relations & Resiliency


Questions? Contact: 

Brian O'Leary, Communications Director, (406) 444-3559

 

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.