OPI's October 2024 Compass

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

Montana Receives 2024 Competitive Grant for State Assessments:

Montana is one of ten states that has been awarded the 2024 Competitive Grant for State Assessments (CGSA). Montana received $3,999,974 to implement the Montana Aligned to Standards Through-Year (MAST) Science assessment for students in grades 6-8. The 2024 CGSA will fund a new four-year initiative titled: Scaling MAST Assessment to Middle School Science.

The expanded MAST Science program will achieve the following goals by 2028:

• Meet federal peer review requirements to replace existing grade 8 summative science assessments
• Align local curricula to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and create intentional cross-grade alignment of curriculum scope and sequence
• Streamline local assessment by providing educators, administrative leaders, students, and families meaningful, timely, and actionable data in one cohesive assessment system
• Ensure NGSS-aligned through-year assessment (TYA) resources are publicly available and widely shared nationwide
• Provide comprehensive professional learning for all Montana elementary and middle school ELA, math, and science educators on assessment literacy and data-informed instruction

To meet these goals, this project includes four major strategies: 

• Produce a science TYA with extensive stakeholder engagement, iterative piloting, and authentic integration of Indian Education for All, culminating in a statewide field test for all 35,000 eligible students at Montana’s 217 middle schools
• Develop professional learning experiences to help educators use the science TYA to support standards alignment and differentiate instruction
• Expand the existing testlet scheduler tool to include science and design score reports that reflect disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and cross-cutting concepts from the NGSS
• To support effective administration and widespread acceptance, integrate science into existing TYA communication vehicles.

2024-2025 MAST Testing Windows:

OPI held a virtual meeting on September 5, 2024 with Dr. Carly Urban & Dr. Christina Stoddard from MSU for a discussion on how ESSER dollars were and are being used in Montana. Please see:

• Agenda
• Meeting Recording
• MSU Presentation
• Administrative ESSER Summary

ESSER Close-Out Process: In partnership with the district, the ESSER Team is closing out the ESSER Grant.  The aim of this process is to ensure district documentation and processing is in compliance with grant regulations and best accounting/grant management practices.  Thank you to the 110 districts who have already completed their full ESSER Closeout.  We greatly appreciate your working with us to ensure compliances are met.  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. To schedule closeout please contact Kimberly Kelly at kimberly.kelly@mt.gov. Please complete a Return Funds form if you are returning awarded funds for any reason.

• An email on ESSER spending and compliances for each District was sent in July to start the Close-Out Process.
• If you did not receive an email by July 15, 2024, check your spam and contact ESSER Meet the Team.

Thank you for crossing the finish line with our ESSER Team and participating in the process of documentation with the ESSER funds.

Remember ESSER III deadline is on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The state-wide ESSER allocation through September 25, 2024, is:

Teach Act Certification: Infinite Campus Certification

Districts must complete an application for the TEACH Act funding to demonstrate:

• 2nd and 3rd class districts: Base pay equal to 10 times the QEC amount for the application year.
• 1st class districts: Base pay requirements above and base pay not less than 70% of average teacher pay.

Districts must identify educators in the first three years of the educator’s teaching career.

Important Reminder for Schools

Principals and Superintendents, please follow up with your teachers to ensure their licensing is up to date. All licensing and verifications must be complete by the December 1st deadline. This will impact the Quality Educator Component Payment.

If you have questions, please contact Laci Novark at (406) 444-4401, or Autumn Belmont at (406) 444-9852, or by email at opischoolfinance@mt.gov.

Get ready for the 34th annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in Montana, in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We're calling on all middle, high, alternative, and non-traditional schools in Montana to join in. Your support as school staff and passionate advocates is key to making this initiative a success.

Participating in the YRBS isn't just contributing to a national effort, it's also a fantastic opportunity for your school. The survey is a crucial tool for assessing and enhancing school health and safety practices. By consolidating the data requirements for several state departments into a single survey, it evaluates student risk behaviors for unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol, other drug use, sexual behaviors, nutrition and dietary behaviors, and physical activity. This means that instead of multiple disruptions to classes throughout the school year, there is just one comprehensive survey.

Just a reminder, we need the superintendents, lead teachers, or whoever has primary decision-making authority in your school to register with the Office of Public Instruction to enroll your school. This is especially important in 2025 as we are conducting the entire survey process online for the first time, making it more convenient and less disruptive for everyone involved. We will provide more information about these changes and further training as the event approaches and schools become registered.

Registration will be open from October 1st to November 30th, 2024. All information and the registration link will be live on that date at https://opi.mt.gov/Leadership/Data-Reporting/Youth-Risk-Behavior-Survey. Your participation in the 2025 YRBS is crucial to its success. We appreciate your commitment to improving the health and safety of Montana's students.

If you have any questions or concerns before October 1st, please feel free to contact Genie Zeeck at 406-594-9851 or genie.zeeck@mt.gov.

The 2024-25 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Scholarship deadline is quickly approaching!

Further information and the application are available right now on the OPI Student Scholarships & Student Exchange webpage, and complete application packets must be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm, October 7, 2024.

Questions? Contact Kristen Bokovoy, USSYP Coordinator, at Kristen.Bokovoy2@mt.gov or (406) 444-2417.

The Montana Teacher Residency Program is a year-long student teaching opportunity for Montana education students who are seeking teacher licensure. The Residents will be in the district for a full school year and must follow their enrolled college or university's requirements in addition to the requirements set by the Teacher Residency Program.

If your district is interested in hosting a Resident  for the 2025-2026 school year please fill out this form. Official contracts for the 2025-2026 Teacher Residency Program will be distributed in the summer of 2025. 

If you have any questions about the Teacher Residency Program, please contact Kirsten Minnick, Teacher Residency Coordinator, at krirsten.minnick@umwestern.edu, or (406) 683-7327.

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is a program for schools Pre-K through university that intentionally promotes meaningful social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities to create accepting school environments utilizing three interconnected components: Special Olympics Unified Sports®, inclusive youth leadership, and whole school engagement.

Interested in becoming a Unified Champion School? Scan the QR Code to complete the UCS Commitment Form or visit https://forms.office.com/r/NJzNWpd4sM and start the inclusion revolution in your school, district, and community! For questions, please contact Terri Norman, UCS Senior Director at tnorman@somt.org.

The third annual Governor’s Youth Hunting Story Contest is open to Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17.

To enter the contest, hunters must submit a story of no more than 500 words and a photo from their hunt. Hunters must be a Montana resident and a licensed hunter or apprentice hunter between the ages of 10-17. Eligible entries include the harvest of any legal game, furbearer animals, or birds in Montana.

The governor will select 10 hunters, five aged 10-13 and five aged 14-17, and announce the winners mid-December. Winners will be invited to the Capitol to receive prizes and celebrate with the governor in January of the new year.

The deadline to enter the contest is Monday, December 2nd, 2024.

To learn more and enter the Governor’s Youth Hunting Story Contest, visit youthhunting.mt.gov.

Teacher of the Year:

Without our nation’s veterans, America wouldn't be the great nation it is today. Our youth deserve to learn about our rich history, traditions and the role of our veterans in creating and shaping America. What is the Teacher Award Program? Founded in 1899, the VFW highly supports the education of America’s youth. VFW and its Auxiliary have developed a slate of programs dedicated to helping America’s educators. VFW Citizenship Education programs stimulate interest in America’s history, traditions, Americanism, civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism. Teachers care deeply about America and its children. They’re concerned about the perpetuation of America’s noblest traditions and highest ideals. Wouldn’t you like to see them get the honor they deserve? Now you can. Why Should I Enter? VFW wants to identify and recognize America’s best educators who instill a sense of national pride in students. The national awards include $1,000 Smart/Maher award for each of the top K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 teachers for professional development expenses, $1,000 award for each winning teacher’s school, commemorative plaques and all-expense-paid trip to the VFW National Convention. Who is Eligible? All current certified/licensed teachers in grades K-12 are eligible. Previous national VFW winners are ineligible. Nominations can be submitted by themselves, fellow teachers, supervisors, family members or other interested individuals. Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars selects elementary, middle, and high school teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program.

Teacher nomination entries must be received at a local participating VFW Post by the Oct. 31 deadline.

Who Is Eligible? 1. Teachers who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism are prime candidates for this award. For example, do you know a teacher who plans field trips to city hall or organizes community volunteer projects? Maybe you know an instructor who invites veterans into the classroom to discuss their military experiences. Perhaps you are familiar with a teacher who fosters the development of democratic values and beliefs through special projects. If you know of such a teacher, honor them today. 2. All current certified/licensed teachers in grades K-12 are eligible. Previous national winners are ineligible. Nominations can be submitted by themselves, fellow teachers, supervisors, family members or other interested individuals. Documentation Required for all Candidates: 1. All Post-level nominees should provide a one-page resume as a minimum or up to five pages, including the resume, as a maximum of documentation of their teaching experience (for example: resume, references, news articles, etc.) and a head-and shoulder photo of themselves, if available. These items will be forwarded on to the District, if applicable, and/or the Department with the winning teacher entry form.

Patriot's Pen:

Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of nearly $1 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! 

The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.   Applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31 to Supporting VFW Post.

The 2024-25 theme is: "My Voice in America's Democracy?"

Voice of Democracy:

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay.  Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through 12th grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. 

The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31. 

The 2024-25 theme is: "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?"