Montana Office of Public Instruction

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The OPI’s Education Navigator

A support document for our Montana policymakers and leaders

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Click here to see the facts:

 

 

Superintendent Arntzen is innovating assessments with the new Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) Program.

 

 

 

Please Read the State Superintendent’s Monthly Message Let’s Get Back to Basics:

For Montana schools to offer the highest caliber education, the basics of math and reading must be prioritized. As I have said before, Montanans fiercely believe in local control, which starts with the family. As State Superintendent, I am here to reinforce that fundamental belief. With this control, responsibility must follow. Much like our decades-old state standards, it seems the level of supportive engagement between our local school trustees, our parents, and our communities is also in need of revitalization. To heal these relationships, we must stop pointing fingers. Positive engagement is paramount to the success of our schools and directly impacts the quality of education our students receive.  

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Superintendent Arntzen Announces 2022 Montana Teacher of the Year, William Stockton of Arlee.

Teacher of the Year

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On August 5th, the U.S. Department of Education approved Montana's ARP ESSER State Plan (submitted on June 7th). This action allows the OPI to begin transferring the remaining one-third of the ESSER III Fund balance to school districts. It also gives the OPI an approved roadmap for helping our great Montana schools use this large influx of Federal funding to innovate and improve instruction for our Montana students. Our plan recognizes local control, removes obstacles and barriers for schools, and enhances accountability without being overly burdensome.  

View ARP ESSER Plan

The ARP Act represents the third round of funding to come through the ESSER fund, and Montana's allocation totals more than $382,000,000. In previous rounds, Montana received more than $41,000,000 (ESSER I) and $170,000,000 (ESSER II). Through the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS), the state also received nearly $20 million for home and private schools. Two-thirds of the ESSER III funding was already released to schools in May; now that USED has approved the State Plan, the OPI can begin releasing the remaining one-third, or roughly $126 million. The ESSER page shares all updates. If you have questions on ESSER, reach out to wendi.fawns@mt.gov.  

 

Upcoming Chapter55 Information

Visit the Chapter 55 Page

Chapter 55 - Negotiated Rule Making Committee:

Wednesday, May 25th, 2022
3:30PM - 5:00 PM
Zoom
Meeting Link - Agenda

Chapter 55 - School Quality Task Force:

Concluded

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Negotiate Rulemaking

New Licensing System 

 

 

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