Montana's system of differentiation under ESSA uses four federally required indicators plus Montana's own fifth indicator to identify schools as either Comprehensive, Targeted, or Universal. This system focuses on providing supports where they are most needed.
Montana ESSA Accountability
1-4 Federally Required Indicators
- Academic Achievement on Statewide Assessments: ELA/Reading & Math
- Academic Growth on Statewide Assessments ELA/Reading & Math (K-8 Only)
- English Learner Progress
- Graduation Rates (HS only)
5th Indicator for Montana Flexibility
- Attendance
- College & Career Ready (HS Only)
- CRT Science Assessment (2016-2017)
Schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement meet one or more of the following criteria:
- are in the lowest performing 5% of all Title I schools in the state;
- have a high school graduation rate of less than 67%; and/or
- have consistently underperforming subgroups.
Every three years, the OPI will identify schools for comprehensive support and improvement beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The OPI will use data from the 2016-2017 school year in order to notify schools during the spring of 2018.
Schools identified for comprehensive support are working in partnership with the schools, district, and the OPI to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of both operational (i.e., school board efficiency, school climate, and student engagement) and instructional components (i.e., leadership, professional development, and curriculum and standards).
All schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement are developing and implementing a Continuous School Improvement Plan based on the comprehensive needs assessment.
Specific strategies include:
- Building community capacity to support kindergarten transitions;
- Building school board efficiency through a school board coach;
- Providing wraparound services to students and their families (e.g., mental and physical health services, mentoring);
- Engaging students in school improvement through youth voice and advocacy work;
- Supporting culturally responsive practices, particularly for American Indian communities;
- Implementing systemic literacy and math improvements through specialized instructional personnel including a variety of educators, as well as library media and digital literacy and math specialists; and
- Use of the Montana Early Warning System to identify students at risk of dropping out of school, apply targeted interventions based on student needs, and track interventions over time to determine if the interventions are working.
Join us for regular "Regional Summit" meetings throughout the 2022-23 school year, continuing in April.
The purpose of ongoing summits is to foster communication and connections between stakeholders at CSI schools. This is also a way to give Tier 2 instruction and guidance while fostering regional relationships. We're hosting two meetings per month – one in Billings and one in Havre ; you are welcome to join at whichever location is most convenient for you and your staff.
In our next Regional Summit, taking place in May, we will work with the OPI School Improvement Team to Unpack the CNA. Your teams will gain the following from this work session:
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Distill your data from the most recent CNA and identify three areas of focus moving forward
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Look at different data points and determine what your plan for instruction and intervention will be for the 23-24 school year
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Have time to write out action plans, look at calendars for professional development opportunities next year, and develop your SMART goals for the 23-24 school year
More details (including locations and times) are contained in each registration form (linked below).
Please register here to attend the Billings summit (by Friday, May 5)
Please register here to attend the Havre summit (by Friday, May 12)
Links to register for these meetings (including more details on each) will be sent prior to each event. Please reach out to your School Improvement Regional Lead with any questions.