Educational policy affects all of our Montana students and families. This is a transparent portal for all educational updates during the 68th legislative session offered to legislators, parents, and families.

To our legislators: Remember families are the foundation of learning as our parents are the first teachers. Our Montana students are our most precious resource and the future of this great state. Thank you for putting our Montana students and families first as you reflect on educational policies during the session.

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Upcoming Events

Local Accountability: How Recent Legislation Affects Families, Students, and Communities.

 
All discussions will take place from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Zoom and will be moderated by the Office of Public Instruction's Chief Legal Counsel.

The discussions times and topics are:

  • June 21, 2023 - Comparing Charter School Bills: Public Charter Schools (HB 549) and Community Choice Schools (HB 562)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Comparison of Charter School Bills

  • July 26, 2023 - Discussing Obscenity (HB 234), Notification Requirements (HB 744), and Religious Freedom (HB 745)

RecordingMeeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

  • August 23, 2023 - Special Needs Equal Opportunity Act (HB 393)

 RecordingMeeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

  • September 20, 2023 - Parental Rights (HB 676 and SB 518)

Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary HB 676 |  SB 518

  • October 25, 2023 - An Act Providing That Use of a Name And Sex by a Student is not Discrimination (HB 361) & Board of Trustees to Adopt a Grievance Policy (HB 504)

RecordingMeeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

  • November 29, 2023 - Protect Physical Self Defense in K-12 Schools (HB 450) and Defining Sex in Montana Law (SB 458)

RecordingMeeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

  • December 13, 2023 - Early Literacy Intervention (HB 352)

RecordingMeeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

  • January 24th, 2024 - Discussing Indian Education for All (HB 338)

      Recording | Meeting Agenda | HB 338 IEFA

 IEFA Funding & Reporting Guide | IEFA Reduction PDF

IEFA Funding Reduction for BPE

  • February 28th, 2024 - Charter School Update and Implementation

 Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary

  • March 27th, 2024 HB 203 District to District Attendance     

                Recording | Meeting Agenda | Legislation Summary                                                                         

Join each meeting here

 

 


Superintendent Arntzen's Legislator Awards

 

Superintendent's Award for Influence in Education

 

Representative Jodee Etchart

Representative Jodee Etchart
Bilings, MT

Representative Ue Vinton Headshot

Representative Sue Vinton
Billings, MT

Representative Mike Hopkins

Representative Mike Hopkins
Missoula, MT

Representative David Bedey Headshot

Representative DAvid Bedey
Hamilton, MT

Representative Jedediah Hinkle

Representative Jedediah Hinkle
Belgrade, MT

Senator Fuller Headshot

Senator Fuller
Kalispell, MT

Rep. Windy Boy Headshot

Representative Windy Boy 
Box Elder, MT

Senator Theresa Manzella Headshot

Senator Theresa Manzella
Hamilton, MT

 

Montana Hope Awards

 

Representative Bob Keenan Headshot

Representative Bob Keenan
Bigfork, MT

Representative Seekins-Crowe Headshot

Representative Seekins-Crowe
Billings, MT

Representative Seekins-Crowe Headshot

Representative Naarah Hastings
Billings, MT

 

Montana Teach Awards

 

Representative Fred Anderson Headshot

Representative Fred Anderson
Great Falls, MT

Representative Marta Bertoglio Headshot

Representative Marta Bertoglio
Clancy, MT

Representative Shannon O'Brien Headshot

Representative Shannon O'Brien
Missoula, MT

 

Montana Learn Awards

 

Representative Braxton Mitchell Headshot

Representative Braxton Mitchell
Great Falls, MT

Representative Greg Kmetz Headshot

Representative Greg Kmetz
Miles City, MT

Representative Bob Phalen Headshot

Representative Bob Phalen
Lindsay, MT

 

Montana Ready Awards

 

Representative Greg Oblander Headshot

Representative Greg Oblander
Billings, MT

Representative Becky Beard Headshot

Representative Becky Beard
Elliston, MT

Archived 68th Legislative Session Information

68th Legislative Transmittal Packet          68th End-of-Session Wrap-Up

 

68th Session Priority Legislation

1. A Promise is a Promise:
Base Aid requirements to fund Public Schools.

2. Teacher Dollars Working for Teachers:
Teacher Licensing fees supporting the teacher licensing system.

3. Updating Audiology Equipment:
One-time-only funding.

4. Student Mental Health:
Amending mental health tuition payments to allow tuition for any residential mental health.

 

Further OPI Legislation

Family Teacher Flexibility Elections
Immunity for use of a legal name Consolidate licenses to three types: teacher, administrator, and specialist State-tribal education compact Move school elections to the primary election date
Montana Interstate Children's Compact Commission Permanent Position Require current contact information for licensees and applicants Require textbook content to align to content standards  
Identify violation of sexuality instruction statute as a gross neglect of duty Expand Teach Act Access to telework employees  
Empower families through local grievance process Move to 8 years in teacher retirement with sunset Apply open meeting laws to associations composed of public bodies  
Digital pre-K learning for kindergarten entrance Continue the Teacher Residency program Return Perkins financial control to OPI  
    Expand choice for local schools  
    Flexible teacher retirement and reemployment  
    Career coaches  

 

Previous Meetings and Events

Previous Meetings and Events

Celebrating Parents as the First Teachers January 2, 2023   12:00 pm   Capitol Rotunda
Swearing in Ceremony January 2, 2023 1:00 pm  
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Panel    January 2, 2023 2:00 pm   Capitol Room 303  
Indian Education For All   February 14, 2023   12:00 pm Capitol Rotunda
Celebrating Women’s History March 22, 2023 12:00 pm Capitol Rotunda
Special Olympics Montana - Recognition of Unified Champions March 28, 2022 12:00 pm Capitol Rotunda
MT Ready Day April 12, 2023 12:00 pm Capitol Rotunda

 

Click to view the 2023 Session Calendar

 

Education Resources

Previous Legislative Sessions

Education Caucus Meeting Materials

January 10, 2023:

Agenda

Related Materials:


January 24, 2023:


February 7, 2023:


February 21, 2023:

Agenda

Related Materials:

  • Coming Soon 

March 14, 2023:


March 21, 2023:

Agenda

Related Materials:

  • Coming Soon 

April 4, 2023:

Agenda

Related Materials:


April 18, 2023:

Agenda

Related Materials:

Tribal Education Caucus Meeting Materials

January 5, 2023:


January 12, 2023:


January 19, 2023:


January 26, 2023:


February 2, 2023:


February 9, 2023:


February 16, 2023:


February 23, 2023:


March 9, 2023:


March 16, 2023:


March 23, 2023:


March 30, 2023:


April 6, 2023:


April 13, 2023:


April 20, 2023:

Agenda | Recording

Related Materials:

 


OPI Staff are here to help:

 
Katie Bloodgood, Legislative Liaison, 406-594-3060

Meet the Superintendent's Executive Staff

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