School Accreditation

Cycle Grouping List

Cycle Grouping List
Title	Cycle 1	Cycle 2	Cycle 3
School Year	2026-2027	2027-2028	2028-2029
MASS Regions	Group A North Central, Hi-Line, North East, South East	Group C North West, Western, Central	Group B 4 Rivers, South Central
Due Date	Friday, February 26, 2027	Friday, February 25, 2028	Friday, February 23, 2029

FY2027-2029 Criterion Reference Guide

Mass Region List

SY26-27 Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)
- Schools identified as Comprehensive or in Rigorous Action are required to complete the OPI CNA every year. If you have questions, please contact your School Improvement Specialist.
Request District CNA Access
SY26-27 CNA directions (PDF)
SY26-27 Access CNA Data Instructions (PDF)
SY26-27 CNA frequently asked questions (PDF)

ACCREDMT Platform

Announcements

2026 MT OPI ACCREDITATION IN PERSON WORK SESSION DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Accreditation Standards & Guidance

Appendix resources for ARM Title 10, Chapter 55 Standards of Accreditation
Resource category	Links and descriptions
Distance Learning	Distance Learner Providers List Distance Learner Provider Application Distance Learner Provider Rules
Infinite Campus resources	Assignment of Superintendent, Principal, Library Media Specialist, and School Counselor (PDF) SEID Creation Guide (PDF)
Course code resources	Montana work-based learning courses are a subset of NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) standard codes. Each course includes a course code and content description. FY 2026 Endorsement Codes (PDF) FY 2027 Course Codes (PDF) FY 2027 Special Education Course Codes (PDF) FY 2027 Work-Based Learning Course Codes (PDF) FY 2027 Financial Literacy Course Codes (PDF)
Intensive Assistance process	Intensive Assistance process – coming soon.
Variance to standards	ARM 10.55.604 – Variances to Standards
Montana educator evaluation	Montana Educator Evaluation
Academic calendar rules	School Fiscal Year School Term, Day, Week Conduct on Weekends Pupil Instruction Related (PIR) Days School Holidays Emergency Closure
Student record information	Student Records Student Records Summary (PDF)
Related administrative rules	Administrative Rules of Montana, Title 10, Chapter 55 Chapter 16 – Special Education Special Education Resource Page Chapter 53 – Content Standards Chapter 54 – Content Standards and Performance Descriptors K–12 Content Standards Resource Page Chapter 56 – Assessment School Assessment Resource Page Chapter 57 – Educator Licensure Educator Licensure Resource Page Chapter 58 – Professional Educator Preparation Program Standards Educator Preparation Program (EPP) Resource Page

School Accreditation Negotiated Rulemaking Information

Accreditation Data

Public Charter Schools

Educator Evaluation

The Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 10.55.724: Evaluation provides the framework for the evaluation process used in Montana schools. The standards outline the minimum guidelines and requirements of the evaluation system used by a school district. A school district adopting and using one of the model instruments shall be construed to have complied with this rule, though use of one of the models shall not be required provided that the district's evaluation instrument and process substantially conform to the requirements set forth in this rule.

The state-approved evaluation systems are copyrighted and owned by private companies. Vendors provide support to districts about the specific content of each evaluation tool.

ARM 10.55.724: Evaluation

Approved in 2024.

Educator Evaluation Research

Approved Applications & Meeting Materials

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) Meeting Date: October 30th, 2025.

Zoom Meeting

Agenda
Unofficial VSRB Minutes
BPE November 19-21, 2025 Board Meeting Minutes

Variance to standards rules and FY 2026 applications
Rules	Applications
ARM 10.55.704 ARM 10.55.705 ARM 10.55.709 ARM 10.55.710 ARM 10.55.902 ARM 10.55.904 ARM 10.55.905	Initial applications Billings Public Schools - Billings Early College Billings Public Schools - Billings High Schools Billings Public Schools - Billings Multilingual Academy Middle School and High School Billings Public Schools - Billings Opportunity Cascade Schools - Cascade Elementary, Cascade Middle School, and Cascade High School Clancy School - Clancy Elementary and Clancy Middle School Elysian Middle School Frontier School and Frontier 7-8 Hardin Public Schools - Big Horn Academy Helena Flats School Lewistown Public Schools - Central MT CTE Academy Lewistown Public Schools - Lewistown Junior High School Marion Schools - Marion School and Marion School 7-8 Renewal applications Eureka Public Schools Hellgate Elementary School District - Hellgate Lower Grades, Hellgate Primary Grades, and Hellgate Intermediate Independent School District - Independent School Shelby Public Schools Three Forks School District

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – November 6, 2024

Zoom meeting

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the November 6, 2024 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.709	Initial applications Corvallis K‑12 Schools – Rise Charter & Distance EL, Rise Charter & Distance 7–8, Rise Charter & Distance HS (PDF) East Helena K‑12 Schools – 227 Academy High School, 227 Academy Middle School (PDF) Frenchtown K‑12 Schools – Bronc Fast Track (PDF) Lockwood Public Schools – Lockwood High School (PDF) Missoula County Public Schools – Missoula Connect Academy MS and Missoula Connect Academy HS (PDF) Missoula County Public Schools – Missoula TEACH Academy (PDF) Thompson Falls Public Schools – Thompson Falls Elementary School and Thompson Falls 7–8 (PDF) Three Forks Public Schools – Three Forks 7–8 and Three Forks High School (PDF) Renewal applications Bonner Elementary – Bonner School and Bonner 6–8 (PDF) Columbia Falls Public Schools – Columbia Falls High School (PDF) Havre Public Schools – Havre High School (PDF) Stevensville Public Schools – Stevensville K–6 and Stevensville 7–8 (PDF) Target Range Elementary – Target Range School and Target Range 7–8 (PDF)
ARM 10.55.604, ARM 10.55.710	Initial applications Corvallis K‑12 Schools – Quentin Brown Primary K–4, Corvallis High School, Edna Thomas School, Corvallis 7–8 (PDF) Corvallis K‑12 Schools – Rise Charter & Distance EL, Rise Charter & Distance 7–8, Rise Charter & Distance HS (PDF) Marion Elementary – Marion School and Marion 7–8 (PDF) Thompson Falls Public Schools – Thompson Falls Elementary School and Thompson Falls 7–8 (PDF)
ARM 10.55.902	Initial applications LaMotte Elementary – LaMotte 6–8 (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – October 27, 2023

Zoom meeting

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the October 27, 2023 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.709	Initial applications Anaconda Public Schools – Anaconda Jr High School and Anaconda Sr High School (PDF) Eureka Public Schools – Eureka Elementary School (PDF) Renewal applications Hardin Public Schools – Hardin High School (PDF) Polson Public Schools – Polson High School (PDF)
ARM 10.55.604, ARM 10.55.710	Initial applications Eureka Public Schools – Eureka Elementary and Eureka Middle School (PDF) Livingston Public Schools – Park High School (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – April 12, 2023

Zoom meeting

VSRB meeting agenda (PDF)
Official VSRB minutes (PDF)
State Superintendent recommendation to the Board of Public Education (BPE) (PDF)
BPE May 11–12, 2023 board meeting minutes

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the April 12, 2023 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.709	Initial applications Hellgate Elementary – Hellgate Intermediate School (PDF) Renewal applications Bigfork Public Schools – Bigfork Elementary and Bigfork 7–8 (PDF) Columbia Falls Public Schools – Columbia Falls Junior High School (PDF) Elysian Elementary – Elysian Middle School (PDF) St. Ignatius K–12 Schools – St. Ignatius Middle School (PDF) Troy Public Schools – Troy 7–8 (PDF)
ARM 10.55.604(11)(c)	Renewal charter applications Bozeman Public Schools – Bozeman Online Charter School (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – April 19, 2022

Zoom meeting

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the April 19, 2022 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.709	Initial applications Havre Public Schools – Havre High School (PDF) Stevensville Public Schools – Stevensville K–6 and Stevensville 7–8 (PDF) Target Range Elementary – Target Range School and Target Range 7–8 (PDF) Renewal applications Hardin Public Schools – Fort Smith School (PDF) Hellgate Elementary – Hellgate Primary Grades and Hellgate Lower Grades (PDF) Kalispell Public Schools – Flathead High School (PDF) Laurel Public Schools – South School (PDF) Lewistown Public Schools – Highland Park School (PDF) Polson Public Schools – Polson Middle School (PDF) Shelby Public Schools – Shelby Elementary School (PDF) Shepherd Public Schools – Shepherd Middle School (PDF)
ARM 10.55.704 and ARM 10.55.705	Renewal applications Independent Elementary – Independent School (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – April 15, 2021

Zoom meeting

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the April 15, 2021 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.709	Initial applications Bigfork Public Schools – Bigfork Elementary and Bigfork 7–8 (PDF) Hardin Public Schools – Hardin High School (PDF) Polson Public Schools – Polson High School (PDF) Renewal applications Bonner Elementary – Bonner School and Bonner 7–8 (ARM 10.55.1801) (PDF) Columbia Falls Public Schools – Columbia Falls High School (PDF) Libby K–12 Schools – Libby Middle School and Libby High School (PDF) Whitehall Public Schools – Whitehall Elementary, Whitehall 7–8, and Whitehall High School (PDF) St. Ignatius K–12 Schools – St. Ignatius Middle School (ARM 10.55.1801) (PDF)
ARM 10.55.604(11)(c)	Initial charter applications Bozeman Public Schools – Bozeman Online Charter School (PDF) Renewal charter applications Bozeman Public Schools – Bozeman High and Gallatin High, Bridger Charter Academy (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – April 16, 2020

Zoom meeting

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the April 16, 2020 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.709	Initial applications Hellgate Elementary – Primary Grades, Lower Grades, Intermediate, and Middle School (PDF) Kalispell Public Schools – Flathead High School (PDF) Laurel Public Schools – South School (PDF) Lewistown Public Schools – Highland Park School (PDF) Polson Public Schools – Polson Middle School (PDF) Shelby Public Schools – Shelby Elementary School (PDF) Shepherd Public Schools – Shepherd Middle School (PDF) Renewal applications Columbia Falls Public Schools – Glacier Gateway Elementary (PDF) Elysian Elementary – Elysian Middle School (PDF) Troy Public Schools – Troy 7–8 (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – April 3, 2019

Office of Public Instruction, 1300 11th Avenue, second-floor conference room, Helena, Montana

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the April 3, 2019 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.704 ARM 10.55.705	Applications Independent Elementary – Independent School (PDF)
ARM 10.55.709	Applications Hardin Public Schools – Fort Smith Elementary (PDF) Libby K–12 Schools – Libby Middle School and Libby High School (PDF) Malta K–12 Schools – Loring Colony, Malta Elementary, Malta Middle, and Malta High School (PDF) Ronan Public Schools – Ronan Middle School (PDF) Whitehall Public Schools – Whitehall Elementary, Whitehall 6–8, and Whitehall High School (PDF)

Variances to Standards Review Board (VSRB) meeting – April 4, 2018

Office of Public Instruction, 1300 11th Avenue, second-floor conference room, Helena, Montana

Variances to standards rules and applications reviewed at the April 4, 2018 VSRB meeting
Rule	Applications
ARM 10.55.601(3)	Applications Laurel Public Schools – West Elementary, Fred W. Graff Elementary, Laurel Middle School, and Laurel High School (PDF)
ARM 10.55.604(11)(c)	Applications Bozeman Public Schools – Bozeman High School (PDF)
ARM 10.55.709	Applications Bonner Public Schools – Bonner School and Bonner 7–8 (PDF) Columbia Falls Public Schools – Columbia Falls High School (PDF) Columbia Falls Public Schools – Glacier Gateway Elementary (PDF) Elysian Schools – Elysian School and Elysian 6–8 (PDF) Hardin Public Schools – Hardin High School (PDF) Joliet Public Schools – Joliet School, Joliet 7–8, and Joliet High School (PDF) Ramsay School District – Ramsay School and Ramsay 7–8 (PDF)

Variance Application Materials

a person sitting on a stack of books reading

Board Members

ARM 10.55.604(1)(d)(iii) The review board members shall serve five year terms with no limit to the number of terms any one person may serve. Terms shall be staggered where half of all positions shall be filled every three years prior to the first meeting of the review board in the third year.

Variances to Standards Review Board Membership
Name	Term expiration	Position	Title	School/District
Fred Anderson	2031	Chairperson	Middle school principal (retired)	Great Falls
Kelly Haverlandt	2031	Vice Chair	High school teacher	Whitefish Public Schools
Cammie Knapp	2028	Board member	High school principal	Corvallis Public School
Jay Phalen	2028	Board member	Board of trustee member	Glendive Public Schools
Adrienna DeCock	2031	Board Member	High School teacher	Lewistown Public Schools
Jennifer Mosley	2028	Board member	Elementary teacher	Shelby Public Schools
Jim Howard	2028	Board member	District superintendent	Bonner Elementary
Eric Matthews	2031	Board member	Elementary school teacher	Bozeman Public Schools
Calli Nicholson	2028	Board Member	Tribal Counsel Rep	Urban - Billings
Abby Moscatel	2028	Board member	Family and community representative	Lakeside

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Accreditation & Educator Prep Unit

School Accreditation

Cycle Grouping List

Announcements

Accreditation Standards & Guidance

School Accreditation Negotiated Rulemaking Information

Educator Evaluation

Approved Applications & Meeting Materials

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Initial applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Renewal charter applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial charter applications

Renewal charter applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Applications

Applications

Applications

Applications

Applications

Variance Application Materials

Variances to Standards Application Materials

Variances to Standards Application Materials for Charter School/ Program

Board Members

Variances to Standards Review Board Membership

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School Accreditation

Cycle Grouping List

FY 2025 Accreditation Process

FY2027-2029 Accreditation Process

School Climate Survey

Comprehensive Needs Assessment Survey

Course Code Resources

Announcements

Accreditation Standards & Guidance

School Accreditation Negotiated Rulemaking Information

Educator Evaluation

ARM 10.55.724: Evaluation

State Approved Observation Tools for Teachers

Research

Evaluation Resources

Approved Applications & Meeting Materials

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Initial applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Renewal charter applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Renewal applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Initial charter applications

Renewal charter applications

Initial applications

Renewal applications

Applications

Applications

Applications

Applications

Applications

Variance Application Materials

Variances to Standards Application Materials

Variances to Standards Application Materials for Charter School/ Program

Board Members

Variances to Standards Review Board Membership

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