OPI's June 2024 Compass

Check out the Calendar of Events for our Unit's Weekly Office Hours, trainings, important deadlines, and more!

Superintendent Arntzen is proudly celebrating two successful years of the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) Pilot Program. The MAST pilot included over one-third, or 20,000 students in grades 3-8, and 200 schools across Montana. The through-year assessment, based on state content standards, is given four times a year to directly connect teaching to the learning of the skill. This program aims to accurately represent the unique needs of Montana students and teachers while providing flexibility.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the MAST program will be used as the federally required student assessment for Math and English Language Arts in grades 3-8. There will be four scheduled testing windows during the school year:

• Window 1: October 14 – November 22, 2024
• Window 2: January 13 – February 21, 2025
• Window 3: March 24 – May 2, 2025
• Window 4: May 5 – May 23, 2025

For more information, contact Tressa Graveley, Assessment Specialist, or click here.

Invitation to Participate in Virtual Meetings on MAST Score Reports

In collaboration with the Center for Assessment, the OPI is seeking teachers and instructional leaders from schools that piloted the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) assessment during the 2023-2024 school year to participate in virtual meetings aimed at gathering valuable insights on reading and using MAST score reports.

One-hour virtual sessions will be held throughout the month of June. As a token of our appreciation, gift cards will be provided to participants.

Your feedback will be instrumental in improving the usability and effectiveness of MAST score reports. If you are interested in participating, please contact Assessment Director Cedar Rose at cedar.rose@mt.gov or 406-444-0733.

OPI will continue holding Virtual Office Hours for Superintendents every Wednesday at 10:00 AM throughout the summer months. To join the Zoom meeting, click here.

During June Ashley Perez, Senior Data Operations Manager, will present:

• June 5 - Data Modernization Update and Updated Timeline
• June 12 - Data Collections
• June 19 - Unified Insights
• June 26 - Accountability; How your data is used and the federal reporting process

ESSER Close-Out Process will begin in June, contact Kimberly Kelly at kimberly.kelly@mt.gov or (406) 594-9295 to schedule an appointment. Note this process is different than the E-Grants Final Expenditure Report (FER). It includes a full review of ESSER I, II & III Budget Pages and other relevant documentation. Please complete a Return Funds form if you are returning awarded funds for any reason.

The ESSER team holds open office hours 6 days a week via Zoom, phone, email, text, and in-person to offer support to school districts.

Remember ESSER III deadline is on September 30, 2024.

The state-wide ESSER allocation through May 29, 2024, is:

Superintendent Arntzen is accepting residency and district applications for the third year of the Montana Teacher Residency Program. The Residency program is a one-year paid student teaching experience during the final year of undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or master’s studies for education majors. Residents will be paired with a teacher-leader, and receive a stipend, district-provided housing, and partial tuition support. Resident teachers will also commit to teaching in a Montana school district for a minimum of three years. Those interested in becoming a resident can apply here. Districts interested in hosting a resident can apply here.

To date, 8 residents in 8 school districts have been placed for the 2024-2025 school year, with more placements pending:

• 12 residents are awaiting lead teacher confirmations
• 15 residents are awaiting placements
• A total of 35 Residents are committed to the program and approved by their Educator Preparation Program

During the first two years of the residency program, 40 residents were placed in 20 Montana school districts.

For more details and any questions, please contact Krystal Smith, OPI Operations Manager, 406-249-0758.

The Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account (ESA) program is a reimbursement program for parents of a child with a disability. The purpose of this program is to provide flexibility for parents in their child’s education. Applications have been submitted, and upon a completed contract, eligible families may start to request reimbursement directly to the OPI for eligible expenses.

Schools leaders, please note that the OPI will notify school districts of any qualified students who are participating in this program by August 1, 2024. OPI will provide guidance to schools on how to reconcile accounts with the OPI for any eligible students.

OPI's proposed Administrative Rules for ESA are available here. There are opportunities for public comment:

• June 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM via Zoom
• June 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM in OPI's Montana Room at 1300 11th Ave, Helena, MT
• Electronically at opipubliccomment@mt.gov

For more information, visit the ESA webpage or contact the ESA Program Specialist, Whitney Williams, 406-444-3408.

The second round of the Budget and Education Working Group (BEWG) meetings were held on May 20-23, 2024. The third round of meetings will be held from June 24-27, 2024. The meetings will be held in seven small virtual group sessions via Zoom. The purpose is to gather information from the community and offer feedback that will serve as a resource for the legislature when considering education funding for the 2025 Biennium Budget and 2025 Legislative Session. OPI staff will provide a white paper and summary from the working group for the legislature.

Over 170 Montanans signed up to be part of the working group and over 100 people participated in the first meeting. The schedule for the meetings is:

• Meeting dates and times for Group A: Special needs students and programs
  • Monday, May 20, 5:30pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Monday, June 24, 5:30pm
  • Monday, July 22, 5:30pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings.
• Meeting dates and times for Group B: Teacher pay, retention, & recruitment
  • Monday, May 20, 7:00pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Monday, June 24, 7:00pm
  • Monday, July 22, 7:00pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings.
• Meeting dates and times for Group C: Rural, population, & culture
  • Tuesday, May 21, 5:30pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Tuesday, June 25, 5:30pm
  • Tuesday, July 23, 5:30pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings.
• Meeting dates and times for Group D: Sustainability & tax burden
  • Tuesday, May 21, 7:00pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Tuesday, June 25, 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, July 23, 7:00pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings.
• Meeting dates and times for Group E: Programs & curriculum
  • Wednesday, May 22, 5:30pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Wednesday, June 26, 5:30pm
  • Wednesday, July 24, 5:30pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings.
• Meeting dates and times for Group F: Funding formula
  • Wednesday, May 22, 7:00pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Wednesday, June 26, 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, July 24, 7:00pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings.
• Meeting dates and times for Group G: School budgeting
  • Thursday, May 23, 5:30pm | Agenda | Recording |
  • Thursday, June 27, 5:30pm
  • Thursday, July 25, 5:30pm
  • Zoom Link for all Meetings

OPI held 7 small group meetings last week. This months’ discussion focused on identifying challenges facing education in the Working Group members’ communities. The upcoming meetings will center on discussing proposed solutions to these identified problems. Some of the most discussed topics included:

• Teacher recruitment & retention: What can be done to recruit new teachers and have them stay in Montana; increase teacher pay to be tied to cost of living; concerns about the cost of healthcare & housing.
• Inflation pressures: All good and services are costing more for schools but increases in funding do not mirror the increases in inflation; utilities and insurance costs have increased; costs to maintain building and facilities has increased substantially- lots of deferred maintenance.
• ANB funding formula: Funding for schools is too focused on student enrollment; there should be a focus on the number of teachers and staff needed for the school not the number of students.
• Special Education: Hard to find qualified teachers; funding does not adequately take into account the amount of services kids need; demand for special education services has increased.  

For more information, please contact Katie Bloodgood, Legislative Liaison, at katherine.bloodgood@mt.gov or 406-444-2082.

In collaboration with the Office of Public Instruction (OPI), the Center for Assessment has developed a Comprehensive Local Assessment Review. This tool is designed to help districts analyze their current assessment systems, including the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) assessment for grades 3-8. The review aims to support districts in identifying, evaluating, and optimizing their comprehensive assessment systems.

Before the review is publicly released in August, we are seeking district leaders to pilot this tool. Your participation will help refine the review process and ensure its effectiveness for all districts.

If you are interested in collaborating with the Center for Assessment to evaluate your district’s assessment landscape, please contact OPI Assessment Director Cedar Rose at cedar.rose@mt.gov or 406-444-0733.

The School Safety Professional Development Grant (SSPDG) opens at 10:00 AM on June 3, 2024.

Montana's Legislature passed HB 601 (2019) and HB 2 (2023) to provide funds to school districts to support school safety professional development. The OPI will administer school safety grant funds with $100,000 awarded each school year.

DreamBox Math and Reading Programs K-12

ALL Montana Districts have access to OPI provided (FREE) DreamBox Math and Reading Programs K-12 for the 2024-2025 school year! 

In August, District Administrators will receive an email with directions on how to roster teachers and students for each adaptive, personalized program. Once your schools are rostered, you can schedule FREE PD at your convenience (summer and fall PIR sessions are filling up quickly). If you have any questions, schedule time to learn more here.

SAVE THE DATE: Days of Discovery

We are happy to announce TWO amazing days of FREE professional development for Discovery Education Experience and DreamBox Learning Math and Reading.  

• Miles City  –  August 6^th
• Helena – August 8^th

Both events are scheduled for 8:00 am – 4:00pm.

Lunch and snacks are provided. OPI Renewal Units Available.

To register, click here.

Check out Discovery Education for more information, or reach out directly to your dedicated PD Specialist, Natalee Hawks at nhawks@discoveryed.com. 

As the school year ends, Special Olympics Montana would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to all of this year’s Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools and UCS school liaisons for their support in promoting acceptance and inclusion of those with intellectual disabilities within Montana’s schools and communities. Thanks for all you do!

2023-2024 school year by the numbers:

• 130 Unified Champion Schools
• 126 Young Athletes coaches trained this school year with 25 sites and over 1,400 student participants statewide
• 41 schools participated in Unified Young Readers
• 37 schools requested Spread the Word resources and support materials for respect weeks, inclusion rallies and other Spread the Word events
• 21 high schools participated in MHSA Unified Track with 84 athletes and 113 unified partners

2023-2024 Recognitions:

• East Middle School in Butte was recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Banner and ESPN Honor Roll School
• Carroll College placed 3rd in the Special Olympics College Championship Week

Interested in learning how your district/school can be involved as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School for the 2024-2025 school year? Contact Terri Norman, UCS Senior Director at tnorman@somt.org.

Life in the Land is a series of six films and over 40 podcast episodes that elevate the value of community-guided and collaborative approaches in Montana's rural communities. Hear from community leaders, ranchers, biologists, and more, as they show the connection between community well-being, landscape health, strong economies, and more. Find the full project at www.LifeintheLand.org [lifeintheland.org]. Featured regions include the Central Montana Plains, the Big Hole Valley, Seeley-Swan Region, Blackfeet Nation, the Mighty Few District of the Crow Nation, and the Upper Yellowstone River. 

This content touches on the following subjects: Social Studies, History, Civic Engagement & Democracy, Science & Environment, Agriculture, Engineering, Community Development, Language Arts, Native Culture & Society, and more. All content is free and available to be utilized in classrooms to kick-off deeper dialogue around the mentioned topics. The podcast episodes that accompany the films are found on the Stories for Action podcast series [lifeintheland.org], and are a great format for take-home assignments, allowing students to take a deeper dive into a specific topic. 

The Life in the Land team can provide a free Lesson Plan to accompany any of the films. We also offer residencies or school visits, hosted by Project Director & filmmaker Lara Tomov [storiesforaction.org] or other Life in the Land team members. These residencies can be customized for the group and location, but can include: technical support for a film screening, a facilitated discussion after the film, and a Story Workshop. These workshops include elevating the student's own story or experience through various mediums, from verbal to written to film, as well as entry level training of film production, to include hands-on camera, audio, and lighting training. If you would like to utilize this project in your classroom or inquire about a residency, please reach out to Lara Tomov at info@storiesforaction.org. 

Life in the Land is produced by Stories for Action [storiesforaction.org], Iron Shield Creative [ironshieldcreative.com], and other statewide partners [lifeintheland.org] including watershed group leaders, ranchers, and education professionals.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Renew America’s Schools team within the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is dedicated to helping school communities make infrastructure upgrades that will decrease energy use and costs, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments. The 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize [herox.com] is a 3-phase, $180 million opportunity to help K-12 public school districts across America build capacity, perform energy audits, and plan/implement energy improvement projects across a portfolio of school facilities. The 2024 Prize will focus on schools that serve disadvantaged communities, including those with a high percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch.