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 English Language Arts and Literacy Content Standards Revisions have completed Negotiated Rulemaking and were presented to the Board of Public Education as an informational item during their May 2025 meeting. Recordings, agendas, and meeting minutes for all NRC sessions, as well as the summary document with an overview of the process and detailed standards proposals can be found on the ELA Standards Revisions Webpage. 

For more information, contact Claire Mikeson at claire.mikeson@mt.gov. 

Current (2011) ELA Standards Documents

Montana Content Standards on Satchel

K-12 Montana Content Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy (includes Literacy Standards in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects)

Montana ELA Standards Appendix

English Language Proficiency

Grade Level Standards Documents

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Sixth Grade

Seventh Grade

Eighth Grade

Ninth-Tenth Grades

Eleventh-Twelfth Grades

ELA Core Content Connectors for Montana's Multi-State Alternate Assessment 

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

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

Instructional Resources

• Indian Education For All (IEFA) Language Arts Lessons: Check out OPI's IEFA resources that have been tribally vetted. ELA resources include resources for teaching novels, poetry, and more, but additional content areas also contain many relevant resources teachers can integrate within ELA lessons.
• NCTE’s Read Write Think Classroom Lessons and Resources: Browse hundreds of free ELA and interdisciplinary lessons and resources by type, collection, grade level, and more. Resources are reviewed by educators using current research and best instructional practices.
• Facing History and Ourselves: Find classroom resources, lessons, unit plans for novels, and teaching strategies.
• Newsela
• EngageNY
• ThinkCerca
• Reading A-Z
• COMMONLIT

Selecting ELA Materials

• What Works Clearing House
• Ed Reports
• ESSA Resources
• Guide for Selecting Instructional Materials Aligned to Montana's Content Standards
• Evaluating American Indian Materials and Resources for the Classroom
• Criteria for Selecting Instructional Materials
• Curriculum Reviews
• Montana Bonded Textbook Dealers

MAST Resources

• MAST Portal, including the resources for teachers below and more
• ELA Standards Blueprint
• ELA Assessment Specifications

Assessments

• Montana Aligned to Through-Year - 3rd - 8th grade Math and ELA Assessment
• ACT with Writing - 11th Grade Math, ELA, and Science Assessment
• English Language Proficiency (ELP) Required Test
• Multi-State Alternate Assessment
  • Montana Alternate Assessment Core Content Connector ELA Standards
  • NCSC Core Content Connectors (CCC)

Helpful Links

• MAST Portal
  • Find Professional Learning, ELA Specific Resources, Engagement Opportunities
  • MAST ELA Blueprints
  • MAST ELA Specifications and Blueprints

Professional Learning and Development

Featured Opportunities

MAST 4 Teachers

This workshop will be held on August 20, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. Check out the flier for registration, contact information, and the Zoom link.
 

Facing History and Ourselves: Professional Learning Opportunities and Back-to-School Resources

Check out the free virtual and on-demand Back-to-School Professional Development offerings from Facing History and Ourselves.

• Centering Belonging and Student Voice through Audio Storytelling - July 30, 11-1 pm MDT
• Starting the School Year with Community and Connection - August 5, 2-3 pm MDT
• Back-to-School Toolkit: Teaching Strategies and Resources for the School Year - On Demand
   

Historical Thinking through Student-Driven Research Workshop
Montana State University-Billings, August 5-6

Learn to engage students in primary source research for historical thinking and analysis in this two-day workshop led by National History Day educator Jamie Holifield.

• You will learn about: Question/thesis development, free online databases for primary source location, research organization, thematic research, source modification, historical contextualization and impact, historical analysis lenses, and evidence-based arguments.
• Eligibility: Montana 4th-12th grade teachers committed to student-driven primary source research in 2025-2026 and who are able to attend both days (9 am-5 pm).
• Benefits: Meals, lodging, travel stipends, and 16 OPI renewal units provided.

Apply now, as spots are limited.
 

Upcoming NCTE Professional Learning Webinars

NCTE members can register for free for the following webinars:

• Preparing Teachers for Disciplinary Literacy Tuesday August 5, 6:30-7:45 pm ET 

• Community Conversations for Elementary School Teachers series

  • Back to School Tuesday, July 29 6:30-7:30 ET

  • Outdoor Learning Tuesday, August 26 6:30-7:30 pm ET

  • Cultivating Communities Tuesday, September 30 6:30-7:30 pm ET

• Montana Association for the Teachers of English Language Arts (MATELA)
• National Council for the Teachers of English (NCTE)
• International Literacy Association
• Montana State Literacy Association

Learning Communities

• Montana Writing Project
• Yellowstone Writing Project
• National Writing Project

The one-stop shop for professional learning opportunities. Take a look at our calendar of upcoming events!

The Teacher Learning Hub

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

• Using Writing to Teach Critical Thinking (1 PDU)

• Using Assessment to Enhance Writing (6 PDU)

• Write From the Start, K-2 Writing Strategies (Updated) (4 PDU)

• Writing to Learn, 3-6 Writing Strategies (6 PDU)

• Writing Across The Disciplines in Middle School (6 PDU)

• Writing Across The Disciplines in High School (6 PDU)

Reading

• Supporting Readers with Informational Text (5 PDU)

• Reading Between the Lines (3 PDU)

Book Study

• Braiding Sweetgrass: A Book Study (New) (2 PDU)

(PreK-2) Double! Not Half. Model Lesson

(Grades 3-5) Counting Coup: Becoming a Crow Chief on the Reservation and Beyond

(Grades 6-8) Code Talker - A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two

(Grades 9-12) Fools Crow by James Welch

K-12 Common Resources

Grades Pre-K-2

Grades 3-5

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12