Compass

Dear Colleagues,

I hope the school year is off to a great start for everyone!

Please make sure your school directory information is up-to-date. This is important to ensure quick and accurate communication on a variety of messages from OPI to districts.

The Office of Public Instruction looks forward to proactive communication and collaboration with local districts this fall. Please stay tuned for important updates and communications from our team.

Additional Information 

Accreditation & Educator Preparation

Achievement in Montana (AIM)

Assessment

Career, Technical and Adult Education

Coordinated School Health

Gifted and Talented

Indian Education for All

Montana Autism Education Project

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

School Finance

School Nutrition

Special Education

Standards, Instruction & Professional Learning

Title & Federal Programs

Transformational Learning & Advanced Opportunities

Tribal Relations & Resiliency

Montana AED Reimbursement Program

In 2025, the Montana Legislature passed HB 869, which appropriated a grant fund for school districts for reimbursement of the purchase and ongoing maintenance of automatic external defibrillators (AED).

The grant program shall provide a reimbursement of $1 for every $1 paid by a school district up to a maximum state contribution of $700 per AED. The funds will be disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis in two grant periods. The first grant application period closes October 15^th, and each school district can reimburse up to $700 in the first grant application period for an AED or AED maintenance. During the first grant application period each school district can reimburse up to $700, but school districts can apply for additional reimbursements in the second grant application period. Any remaining funds will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis in the second grant application period. The second application period opens January 15^th and closes March 15^th.  All submitted receipts must clearly show proof of payment and be dated on or after July 1, 2025. 

Guidance Document: https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182/Page%20Files/AED-First-Aid/Images/Montana%20AED%20Reimbursement%20Program.pdf?ver=2025-07-23-090409-647

Application: https://montanaopi.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tRlBi8bjsV3t7E

Grant Window 1

• Open Date: July 18    
• Close Date:  October 15        
• Restrictions: Each school district can reimburse up to $700.

Grant Window 2

• Open Date: January 15           
• Close Date: March 15             
• Restrictions First come first until funds are exhausted. * Up to $700 per AED

Questions?

Christy Mock-Stutz, Assistant Chief Program Officer, christy.mock-stutz@mt.gov

Katie Bloodgood, Legislative Director, katie.bloodgood@mt.gov

Purple Star Designation & Purple Star Champions Applications Now Open!

OPI and the Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) are excited to announce that applications for the Purple Star School Designation and nominations for the Purple Star Champion Award are now open. The deadline to apply or nominate is October 31, 2025.

The Purple Star Program honors schools and individuals who show exceptional commitment to supporting Montana’s military-connected students and families.

Two Opportunities:

1. Purple Star School Designation Recognizes schools that meet all required activities—such as appointing a trained liaison and providing military family resources—and at least one optional activity, like hosting a military recognition event or passing a school board resolution. Apply here: Purple Star School Designation Application
2. Purple Star Champion Award Honors military-friendly school administrators, educators, staff, and community members who go above and beyond for military-connected students. Nominations can be submitted by students, family members, colleagues, or supervisors. Nominate here: Purple Star Champion Nomination Form

Award recipients for both the Purple Star Schools and Purple Star Champions will be announced in November 2025.

If you have questions, please contact OPIMIC3@mt.gov.

Thank you for your commitment to all Montana students, especially those who serve alongside their military families.

Appointing a military family liaison is highly encouraged for all schools. 

This would be similar to the Foster Care, McKinney-Vento Vento or Title XI Point of contacts that you have in your school. This staff member would be supported by OPI and the Military Interstate Compact Commission.  They would identify military families and support new students and families as they enroll as well as coordinate events. This is an opportunity for an educator or other staff member to have a leadership role in a important area, and requires minimal hours and additional duties.

OPI School Technology Resource Program

This program is administered by the OPI and collects computer equipment from state and federal sources, and private donations to distribute at no cost to Montana's K-12 public schools. The equipment is stored in Clancy, MT and is operational, but all data (including operating systems) is removed for security purposes. Equipment available may include desktops, laptops, tablets, chromebooks, monitors, and printers. 

So far in 2025, schools have accessed over 875 pieces of technology for no cost!

• Laptop: 316
• Desktop: 139
• Tablet: 23
• Monitor: 78
• Projector: 6
• Printer: 3
• Accessory: 311
• Total: 876

Contact opiboneyard@mt.gov to find out more about what inventory is available or schedule a time to visit:

Please provide the following info in your email: name, school district, school and phone number. 

Outside Opportunities

The 2025-26 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Scholarship opened August 14, 2025, to Montana Juniors and Seniors who meet the USSYP qualifications!

Two students from Montana will be selected to receive one $10,000 scholarship each, along with a trip to Washington, D.C., March 7-14, 2026. Attending the entire Washington Week public service and leadership program and the college scholarship are one, inseparable award!

The application is available right now on the OPI Student Scholarships & Student Exchange webpage, and complete application packets must be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm, October 6, 2025.

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

Civic Bee

The Mansfield Center is partnering with the National Chamber of Commerce Foundation to host the 2026 Montana Civics Bee for middle school students. Students who participate will strengthen their civics, writing, and public speaking skills, and form friendships with other young leaders along the way!   

A brief overview of the Montana Civics Bee:  

• 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students must submit a 750-word (max) essay proposing their ideas for improving their community by February 3rd, 2026.
• Top-scoring essays will be invited to participate in a regional bee near them in spring 2026 for the chance to win cash prizes. Finalists from each regional bee will be invited to compete in the Montana State Civics Bee in Helena in late spring/early summer 2026 for the chance to win cash prizes at the state level.  
• The winner of the State Bee will be sent on an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, DC to compete in the National Civics Bee in fall 2025 for the chance to win $100,000 towards college.

The United States is experiencing a crisis in civic education among younger generations, and the Mansfield Center is working to combat this issue by offering opportunities for young Americans to engage with civics and strengthen our democracy moving forward. We are thrilled to gather students from across the state for these exciting events!  

To apply, visit the National Civics Bee webpage [my.reviewr.com] and create an account to access the application portal. 

For additional resources to prepare your students visit our resource platform [drive.google.com]. 

   Reach out to Kate Koenig at kate.koenig@mso.umt.edu with questions! 

2026 Civics Bee Flyer

Life in the Land: Connecting People & Place in Montana

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. The films, and accompanying lesson plans, are free and available for middle school, high school, & college-level educators. In the films, hear from community leaders, ranchers, biologists, and more, as they show the connection between community well-being, landscape health, local 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 team behind Life in the Land also offers residencies or school visits, hosted by Project Director & filmmaker Lara Tomov [storiesforaction.org]. These residencies can be customized for the group, but can include: a facilitated discussion after the film, and/or a Story Workshop. These workshops include elevating the student's own story or experience through various mediums, from verbal to written to video. We can also provide entry level training of film production, to include hands-on camera, audio, and lighting training. If you would like to incorporate a Life in the Land film into your classroom, receive a free lesson plan, 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. Curriculum creation led by Shauni Seccombe

📣 Regional Training Opportunity: Student Wellness & Safety

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), in partnership with the Montana Safe Schools Center, is proud to offer a free regional training series focused on Student Wellness and Safety. This engaging and practical training is designed for educators and school staff who support student well-being.

🧠 Training Topics Include:

• Impacts of Stress on Brain Development
• De-escalation Strategies
• QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention
• De-Escalation
• Child Trafficking and Exploitation
• The Science of Happiness & Resilience

🎓 Earn 7 OPI Renewal Units (CEUs)

📍 Training Locations & Dates:

• Glasgow – September 17
• Havre – September 18
• Glendive – September 23
• Billings – September 24
• Butte – September 25
• Missoula – September 30

💵 Cost & Travel:

• Free of charge
• Partial travel reimbursement available

This is a valuable opportunity to build skills, connect with peers, and strengthen your school’s approach to student wellness and safety.

👉 Space is limited—register early to secure your spot!

For more information or to register, please contact Tina at the Montana Safe School Center or montanasafeschools.org [montanasafeschools.org] or https://forms.gle/R8swc3zS4mzeJ87S6 [forms.gle].

Questions? Contact: 

McKenna Gregg, Communications Director

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.