ELA Standards Revision Process
Check out the Montana ELA & Literacy Standards Revision Overview one-pager for an overview of the proposed revisions!
The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has completed its work revising the English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Content Standards. The committee began the standards review process on January 6-8, 2025, meeting in person in Helena for Sessions 1, 2, and 3 and virtually for sessions 4-5 on January 30-31, and virtually for session 6 on February 28. Recordings, agendas, and meeting minutes for all sessions can be found on the ELA Standards Revisions Webpage.
OPI will present the proposed standards at March’s MACIE meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, March 25 from 1:00-5:00 pm. After review by Superintendent Hedalen, the proposed standards will be proposed to the Board of Public Education (BPE) for adoption.
ELA Standards Economic Impact Statement
As part of the standards update process, an Economic Impact Statement must be created and presented to the Montana legislature in partnership with the BPE. To determine the potential financial impact of the proposed ELA standards on school districts, the OPI is seeking your critical input.
Please consider completing this Economic Impact Survey by April 13, 2025. Within the survey, you will find a comprehensive overview of the proposed revisions. Completing the survey and reviewing the proposals will take approximately 30 minutes.
Thank you in advance for your time and input. Should you have any questions, please contact Marie Judisch, Senior Manager of Teaching and Learning.
More information can be found on the OPI’s ELA Standards Revisions Webpage.
Yellowstone Writing Project
The Yellowstone Writing Project is hosting their bi-annual Invitational Summer Institute June 16-27, 2025. This intensive writing workshop provides a supportive community that explores strategies for teaching writing and building writing communities–at all ages and grade levels. Participants can earn 6 graduate credits or equivalent renewal units. See the
application and
website for more information.
OPI Summer Institute
Save the date! The OPI Summer Institute is scheduled for June 16-19 at MSU in Bozeman, Montana. Check back on the
Summer Institute site for more details soon.
The English Language Arts and Literacy Standards
ELA Standards Revision Process
Check out the Montana ELA & Literacy Standards Revision Overview one-pager for an overview of the proposed revisions!
The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee has completed its work revising the English Language Arts (ELA) and Literacy Content Standards. The committee began the standards review process on January 6-8, 2025, meeting in person in Helena for Sessions 1, 2, and 3 and virtually for sessions 4-5 on January 30-31, and virtually for session 6 on February 28. Recordings, agendas, and meeting minutes for all sessions can be found on the ELA Standards Revisions Webpage.
OPI will present the proposed standards at March’s MACIE meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, March 25 from 1:00-5:00 pm. After review by Superintendent Hedalen, the proposed standards will be proposed to the Board of Public Education (BPE) for adoption.
For more information please get in touch with Claire Mikeson at claire.mikeson@mt.gov.
ELA Standards Economic Impact Statement
As part of the standards update process, an Economic Impact Statement must be created and presented to the Montana legislature in partnership with the BPE. To determine the potential financial impact of the proposed ELA standards on school districts, the OPI is seeking your critical input.
Please consider completing this Economic Impact Survey by April 13, 2025. Within the survey, you will find a comprehensive overview of the proposed revisions. Completing the survey and reviewing the proposals will take approximately 30 minutes.
Thank you in advance for your time and input. Should you have any questions, please contact Marie Judisch, Senior Manager of Teaching and Learning.
More information can be found on the OPI’s ELA Standards Revisions Webpage.
Current (2011) ELA Standards Documents
Grade Level Standards Documents
ELA Core Content Connectors for Montana's Multi-State Alternate Assessment
Alternate ELA Standards (Core Content Connectors) are not formally adopted by the OPI but are aligned to and used in coordination with Montana's Multi-State Alternate Assessment.
Family Roadmaps- Grade-to-Grade Crosswalks for the MT English Language Arts Content Standards
Involve stakeholders in student learning by providing parents and families with these grade-level guides to the content standards. Each grade level document provides a clear and easy-to-understand overview of what their child will learn and do in their grade. It also includes a side-by-side comparison of vertical alignment with the grade below and grade above to help parents and students understand the subtle differences in ELA skill progression as outlined in the standards. Each grade-level document concludes with a section on specific supports families can and should do to help their students meet grade-level ELA goals.
Kindergarten
Grade One
Grade Two
Grade Three
Grade Four
Grade Five
Grade Six
Grade Seven
Grade Eight
High School
Machine Readable Standards on the CASE Network for SIS Interoperability
Tech Directors: To access a machine-readable version of the official Montana Content Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy, please visit the 1EdTech CASE Network site. Create a free login, select Montana Office of Public Instruction, and view or download the standards. The CASE version of the standards can be uploaded to student information systems, curriculum mapping programs, and various other uses. Learn more about the CASE Network or view the CASE Network FAQ
Professional Learning and Development
Featured Opportunities
SIM Virtual Professional Learning is available for educators as self-paced PD courses on Canvas with follow-up virtual coaching sessions. The sessions feature learning strategies and content enhancement routines focused on evidence-based literacy practices.
This is free to groups of Montana educators of 4 or more through June 2025. Check out the
Montana SIM Project website or the
Montana SIM Project flyer for more information.
Writing Coaches of Montana, a nonprofit literacy organization, seeks volunteers to assist with the scoring of student writing for a research study. This event will take place at Columbia Falls High School, Saturday, March 8, from 8:30 am-4:00 pm. Volunteers will score anonymous student papers to determine if WCM's coaching services affect student writing outcomes. Educators can earn OPI renewal credits, learn about writing assessment processes and applying holistic rubrics, and network with fellow educators and community members who value education. Fill out the
interest form to be contacted by WCM staff.
Professional Organizations
Learning Communities
The Professional Learning Portal The one-stop shop for professional learning opportunities. Take a look at our calendar of upcoming events!
Looking for free, quality, online professional learning? Need more renewal units? Take a look at the Teacher Learning Hub for a variety of online learning courses.
Writing
Reading