Standards Revision

Economic Impact Statement

Montana stakeholders were surveyed to gather critical information about the economic impact of the proposed amendments to the English Language Arts and Literacy (ELA) Content Standards Revisions - Administrative Rule of Montana (ARM) Title 10, Chapter 53, Subchapter 4. Determining an economic impact for revised standards is in accordance to 2-4-405, Montana Code Annotated (MCA). This information is shared with Montana Legislators as they determine potential costs aligned with the formal adoption of the revised content standards.

• Drafted Economic Impact Statement of ELA Content Standard Revisions
• Summary of ELA Revisions

Grades K-2 Writing Team

Grades 3-5 Writing Team

Grades 6-8 Writing Team

K-12 Review Team

K-12 Reconciliation Team

* Denotes Interdisciplinary Literacy Caucus member

Task Force Materials

The following table presents the meeting agendas retained from the Task Force Development processes of the English standards revision. Viewing these will provide greater insight into the rationale and motivations of the expert volunteers who contributed to this work.

Task Force Meetings

The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee for English Language Arts began work December 2024. To follow along with the progress of the negotiated rulemaking, please see the meeting information below.

The Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is committed to supporting educators in preparing for the implementation of new standards by providing guidance and resources as they become available. These documents are shared in stages and represent drafts that may be revised periodically to incorporate additional information and updates. While we strive to ensure accuracy in all shared materials, they may not yet encompass all potential guidance or examples that educators may find helpful.

Our Mathematics Instructional Coordinator is working diligently to develop and refine these resources to ensure they are practical and relevant to educators' needs. This work is ongoing and reflects our commitment to supporting educators throughout the implementation process.

We understand the urgency educators feel as they begin preparing for these changes, and our goal is to provide practical resources that support their efforts. However, these materials are part of an ongoing process, and additional, more detailed guidance will follow as development continues.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work diligently within our available resources to provide timely, comprehensive, and practical support for Montana educators.

CASE Network

To access a machine-readable and interactive version of the official Montana Content Standards for Mathematics, please visit the IMS Global 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 a variety of other uses. Learn more about the CASE Network | CASE Network FAQ

PK-12 Guidance Document

Download PK-12 Guidance Document (PDF) - This document lists all PK-12 mathematics standards as a PDF file. This document includes all guidance, from a PK-12 perspective, for the new standards. This consists of the content standards, the practice standards (with elaborations), as well as assessment, financial literacy, pathways, recommended course alignment, and other appendices. Grade-level-specific guidance will be forthcoming, beginning with Kindergarten, that will provide elaborations and examples by standard.

Grade Level-Specific Expanded Guidance/Model Curriculum Guides

These documents list the grade-level specific mathematics standards as a PDF file. They include all guidance, from a specific grade level instructional perspective, for the new standards. This consists of the content standards, the practice standards (with grade-appropriate elaborations), general notes, instructional and IEFA examples for each standard, example proficiency rubrics for each standard, suggestions for alignment with financial literacy, and vertical alignment recommendations.

• Montana Kindergarten Mathematics Standards Expanded Guidance
• Montana Grade 1 Mathematics Standards Expanded Guidance

Additional grade-level-specific guidance will be forthcoming, next with Grade 2, that will provide elaborations and examples by standard.

Appendix C: Financial Literacy Across the New Math Standards

Download Financial Literacy Appendix (PDF) - This document provides guidance to educators and districts on financial literacy across the new math standards in accordance with the new graduation requirements.

Suggested Uses for These Documents

• Curriculum Alignment: Identify where Montana standards may align with content in existing Common Core-aligned curricula to assess coverage.
• Gap Analysis: Compare the expectations of Montana standards with their Common Core counterparts to pinpoint gaps, non-aligned concepts, and areas needing supplemental instruction.
• Facilitating Discussions: Use this document as a tool to guide conversations about upcoming changes to standards, curriculum selection, vertical alignment efforts, or prioritization of instructional goals.
• Professional Development Planning: Use the standards to design training sessions or workshops that address shifts in expectations and instructional practices.
• Assessment Alignment: Review current assessment items to ensure they align with Montana standards and revise or supplement as needed.
• Instructional Material Review: Use the standards as a benchmark when evaluating textbooks, digital tools, and other resources for their alignment and appropriateness.
• PLC Collaboration: Support collaborative discussions in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to develop shared understanding and strategies for teaching the updated standards.

These Documents Should Not Be Used as

• Direct Substitution for Curriculum Updating: Teachers should not simply replace Common Core references in their current scope and sequence documents with the new Montana standards without evaluating the substantive changes. This may lead to misalignment if instructional practices and materials are not adjusted to meet the updated expectations.
• Assumption of Equivalence: Educators should avoid assuming that the correlated Common Core standards are fully equivalent to the Montana standards. The document explicitly notes that many standards have undergone significant changes, and instruction must reflect those differences.
• Defining Comprehensive Guidance: This document is not intended to serve as comprehensive instructional guidance or a complete curriculum map. It should be viewed as a reference tool, not a substitute for curriculum development or instructional planning tailored to the updated standards.
• One-Size-Fits-All Application: The document is not designed to address every possible instructional scenario or individual classroom need. Educators must critically evaluate their unique contexts, students, and resources when applying the standards.
• Standalone Resource for Implementation: While useful for identifying changes and gaps, this document should not be the sole resource for implementing the new standards. Educators will need additional guidance, professional development, and collaborative planning to fully align instruction.

More coming soon! Thank you for your patience.

Recommended High School Mathematics Pathways

Download Recommended High School Mathematics Pathways (PDF) - This document has been developed by the High School Task Force to offer a formal recommendation from the Montana Office of Public Instruction regarding pathways available to high school students in Montana. Whether students aspire to attend a four-year university, a two-year college, trade school, join the military, pursue an apprenticeship, or engage in on-the-job training, this pathways document outlines which option may be most advantageous for the student, based on their intended career field.

High School Math Course Recommendations

Download High School Math Course Recommendations (PDF) - This document has been developed by the High School Task Force to offer educators and districts multiple course progression options, including both traditional and integrated pathways, to help schools structure 9-12 mathematics experiences. The appendix also includes recommendations for upper-division mathematics courses—those that extend beyond the minimum high school mathematics standards for graduation—to support students preparing for informed citizenship, advanced careers, college-level mathematics, or military pathways. These recommendations are intended to promote access to rigorous coursework, encourage flexible planning, and ensure that all students have opportunities to engage with mathematics in ways that align with their goals and aspirations and prepare them to be informed, productive citizens. It is important to note that these are recommendations, not mandates. Many schools use these as a starting point and make modifications that best fit their curricular resources and district priorities.

More materials will be provided as they are generated. Thank you for your patience.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) recognizes that clear, consistent communication across all stakeholder groups is critical to the successful implementation of new mathematics standards. When educators, families, and community members understand the changes—and how they can contribute to this transition—we strengthen statewide alignment and support student success.

The following one-pagers are designed to promote shared understanding and can be used in a variety of ways, including:

• By district and school personnel to support professional learning and guide implementation efforts
• As tools for communicating with families, school boards, Tribal governments and representatives, and community partners
• To ensure each stakeholder group has access to relevant information tailored to their role in the process

One-Pagers by Audience

• One Pager for Students (PDF)
• One Pager for Administrators (PDF)
• One Pager for School Counselors (PDF)
• One Pager for Tribal Education Agencies (PDF)
• One Pager for School Board Trustees (PDF)
• One Pager for Families and Community Members (PDF)
• One Pager for Secondary Educators (PDF)
• One Pager for Elementary Educators (PDF)
• One Pager for Pre-Service Teacher Educators (Higher Educators) (PDF)

We recognize that schools and districts are beginning the important work of aligning to the new standards. The following tools are designed to support educators as they move toward local implementation.

These resources can be used to:

• Guide district conversations and meetings focused on aligning curriculum to the new standards
• Support educators in reviewing and comparing the previous and updated standards to identify key shifts and curriculum gaps
• Enhance Professional Learning Community (PLC) discussions or be integrated into Pupil-Instruction Related (PIR) day activities

Standards Alignment Mapping Tool

Download Standards Alignment Mapping Tool (PDF) - This resource is a simple tool for districts or educators who are taking an existing curriculum and aligning the new standards within each unit. This tool can be used to assess a unit, the Common Core Standards previously covered in the unit, the corresponding Montana Math Standard (2026), determine the alignment level, and make notes for modifying the lesson. It includes a simple kindergarten example to support understanding of the use of the tool.

Unit Planning & Alignment Template

Download Unit Planning & Alignment Template (PDF) - Although there are multiple ways to unit plan, this resource is a tool for educators who begin their unit planning and alignment process with their curriculum or textbook. This tool is broken into three parts: Curriculum Alignment, Math Practice Integration, and IEFA Integration. These parts align with our three-part alignment professional development, however, educators are not required to complete the unit planner in any particular order. Teachers should feel free to edit the order of these resources as they see fit.

Appendix G: High School Math Course Recommendations

Download Appendix G: High School Math Course Recommendations (PDF) - This resource supports high school educators in understanding which standards may align with which courses. This resource, created by the Math Revisions Task Force and OPI, provides guidance for both traditional (Algebra 1 - Geometry - Algebra 2) pathways and integrated (Integrated Math I, II, & III) pathways, along with recommendations for other mathematics elective courses.

Appendix A: K-12 (2026) Correspondence with Common Core State Standards (2011)

Download Appendix A: Correspondence with Common Core (PDF) - The Montana State Standards are distinct from the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). While some Montana standards remain similar to their CCSS counterparts, many have been significantly revised or newly developed. This correspondence information is provided as a reference tool to help educators understand where conceptual connections may exist between the two sets of standards. It is important to note that this correspondence does not imply equivalence. Educators should not assume that a CCSS-aligned resource automatically addresses the expectations and requirements of the Montana State Mathematics Standards. Rather, this tool is intended to support the process of evaluating existing materials, identifying areas of overlap or deviation, and making informed decisions about curriculum and instruction alignment.

Coming Soon

Facilitator Guide for the Alignment Professional Development Series

Thank you for your patience.

Math Professional Learning Webinars

Montana Math: Monthly Math Implementation Series

This free webinar series is designed to support school-based Montana educators through the adoption and implementation of the new standards, effective July 2026.

Year one has completed and recordings are available under the "Pre-Recorded Webinars" section of this page. Year two will be beginning again in August of 2026. In year two, we will focus on moving from awareness to application by building a community of educators committed to working on implementation of the new standards using highly effective strategies and high quality instructional moves. Each session will include suggested "take-back" activities that participants can use to carry on the work with their teams.

A monthly session for K-8 educators will occur on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 4:00pm - 5:00pm

A monthly session for 9-12 educators will occur on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Interested in joining us in August?

Register Here Today!

Please note that OPI will only issue PDU certificates to attendees participate in the live sessions and complete the requirements in compliance with the Administrative Rules of Montana. Educators working in schools may be able to request PDU certificates from their administrators, depending on local policies.

Interested in catching up on the year one sessions? Check out the recordings below to prepare yourself to transition from awareness to application in year 2!

Previous Recordings

• Session #1: August 21st - Why the Change? Understanding the Math Standards
• Session #2: September 18th - Exploring the Changes & Structure: Navigating the Standards
• Session #3: October 16th - Math Practices: What They Are & Why They Matter
• Session #4: November 20th - From Fluency to Flexibility: Understanding Mathematical Proficiency
• Session #5: Aligning Your Curriculum: Where Do We Stand?
• Session #6: January 15th - Assessment & Standards: What Needs to Change?
• Session #7: February 19th - Differentiation & Access for All Learners
• Session #8: March 19th - Making Math Meaningful: Integrating IEFA and Local Context
• Session #9: April 16th - Action Planning & Next Steps

Year 2 will start up in August 2027!

Series Google Drive with slide decks and participant handouts

Please note that OPI will only issue PDU certificates to attendees participate in the live sessions and complete the requirements in compliance with the Administrative Rules of Montana. Educators working in schools may be able to request PDU certificates from their administrators, depending on local policies.

Big Sky Standards: Real-World Data

Want to better understand the shifts in emphasis toward data science across the standards? Data Science 4 Everyone partnered with OPI in 2025 to bring a free, monthly, professional learning series to Montana's educators and the recordings of these sessions are still available.

This series will address why data skills are woven into the new MT math standards, why they matter for students today, how they can drive engagement in the classroom, and so much more!

Previous Session Recordings:

• Session #1 Recording: Why Data Science - August 19th, 2025 | Session #1 Slide Deck
• Session #2 Recording: Take the Intimidation out of Data Through Mathematics - September 9th, 2025 | Session #2 Slide Deck
• Session #3 Recording: Assess Data Skills & Analyze Assessment Results - October 14th, 2025 | Session #3 Slide Deck
• Session #4 Recording: Data Visualizations - November 11th, 2025 | Session #4 Slide Deck
• Session #5 Asynchronous Session - December
  • Recording
  • Slide Deck

Please note that OPI will only issue PDU certificates to attendees participate in the live sessions and complete the requirements in compliance with the Administrative Rules of Montana. Educators working in schools may be able to request PDU certificates from their administrators, depending on local policies.

Live Opportunities

Educators seeking professional learning about the math standards should consider attending the following professional learning opportunities taking place this summer:

OPI Summer Institute

• When: June 15th - 18th
• Where: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.
• Who: Of interest to PK-12 educators from all content specialties, roles, and settings.
• What: Professional learning is available across multiple subject areas and topics. There will me multiple math learning opportunities across each day. There will also be additional topics such as MTSS, AI in the classroom, Assessment, Literacy, Health and Wellbeing of Students, and more.
• How Much: $69 Registration Fee.
• Funding Assistance: Many school districts may have funding for professional learning available. There are also rooms available with University housing for lower costs than area hotels (available through the registration process).

Register Here Today!

STEM Summer Institute

• When: August 3rd - 5th
• Where: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT.
• Who: Of interest to K-12 educators from all content specialties, roles, and settings.
• What: Professional learning is available across multiple subject areas and topics. There will me multiple math learning opportunities across each day. There will also be additional topics such as Data Literacy, AI in the classroom, STEM integration, Place-Based Learning, and more.
• How Much: $295 Registration Fee
• Funding Assistance: Many school districts may have funding for professional learning available. There are also rooms available with University housing for lower costs than area hotels (available through the registration process). There are scholarships available through Data Science 4 Everyone. Applications are due April 30th! Multiple discounts are available for educators who are registering as a group, members of MCTM, or working for School Services of Montana membership districts.

Register Here Today!