Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3)

 

The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) was adopted by the Montana legislature through SB203 which resulted in 20-1-230 & 20-1-231 MCA.  MIC3's purpose is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families. Through the Interstate Compact key educational transition issues encountered by children of military families are addressed.

 

MIC3 Resources

 

MIC3Logo  purplestar

 

April is Month of the Military Child and April 19th is Purple Up Day!

Katherine Bloodgood, the Legislative Liaison for OPI, spent April 18th in Great Falls celebrating the 2024 Purple Up Schools and Champions as well as all of Montana’s military-connected students and families. Thank you to Great Falls School District for your work with military students and families and hosting such a wonderful Purple Up event.

2024 Purple Star Award Ceremony Image:

Image

 

Hashtags to celebrate military children:  • #MOMC  • #purpleup  • #milkids  • #MTmilkids •  #milfam • #purpleupMT

Please join us in celebrating our military-connected students. Need ideas?
Check out these packets provided by our partners at the Montana Army National Guard.

 

Congratulations to our current Purple Star Schools for their commitment to supporting our military families!

 

purplestar

As we ready for opening up for applications again this fall, please share with your local schools the opportunity to apply for a Purple Star Award designation. Our Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) addresses the key education transition issues encountered by military-connected students. We want to recognize and partner with schools across Montana who work to honor our many military families and students. 

Applications open this fall and will be shared on this page. 

MIC3 Information

Map of Military Connected Students

 

Map of military connected students 

Military Connected Students in Montana

TOTAL - 1,478 students

 

MIC3 Membership Information

Membership:

USAF Sergeant Ray Shaw, (R) -  Shaw@3rivers.net - Compact Commissioner

State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen - elsie.arntzen@mt.gov - Office of Public Instruction

Col Ciro De La Vega- ciro.delavega@us.af.mil - Mission Support Group Commander, Malstrom Air Force Base

Representative Ed Buttrey - ed.buttrey@mt.leg.gov 

Lisa Sapp - lisa.sapp.1@us.af.mil - Child & Youth Education Services School Liaison, Malmstrom Air Force Base

Superintendent Tom Moore - tom_moore@gfps.k12.mt.us - Great Falls Public Schools

Major Christopher Oelkers - Director of Soldier and Family Support, Montana Army National Guard

 

Montana MIC3

Montana State Council Bylaws

DRAFT Budget

Report to the State Administration and Veterans' Affairs Interim Committee - May 2018

Report to the Education Interim Committee - September 2018

National MIC3 2019 Annual Report

National MIC3 2020 Annual Report

 

Resource(s):

Seasons of My Military Student

 

National MIC3, EA, Commissioner Shaw  Montana State Council on Education Military Children

MIC3 Meeting Information

Meetings and Materials:

November 2024
 
August 2024
 
April 2024
 
August 2023
 
April 2023
 
 

 

 

 

 

Purple Star Applications and Nominations

Purple Star Montana Logo_Banner (005)The Montana Office of Public Instruction and the Montana Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission is accepting Purple Star School Designation applications will be accepted until November 24, 2023. The Awardees will be announced in December 2023

The Purple Star School Designation for military-friendly schools recognizes the schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. Schools that earn the award will receive a special Purple Star recognition to display onsite in honor of students of Military families. This designation is for three years.

 

Purple Star School – Valley Christian in Missoula

Contact Information

Contact Us
Primary Contact:

Ray Shaw
251 Bivens Creek Rd
Sheridan, MT 59749
Secondary Contact: Jenna McKinney
Director of Family Engagement - OPI
406-438-3400

2022-2023 Purple Star School Award Recipients

 

Montana School for the Deaf and Blind

3922 Central Ave.

Great Falls, MT 59405

 

Great Falls High School- Great Falls Public Schools

1900 2nd Ave S

Great Falls, MT 59405

Chief Joseph Elementary- Great Falls Public Schools

5305 3rd Ave S

Great Falls, MT 59405

Meadow Lark Elementary- Great Falls Public Schools

2204 Fox Farm Rd.

Great Falls, MT 59404

 

Early Learning Family Center- Great Falls Public Schools

3300 3rd St. NE

Great Falls, MT 59403

2022-2023 Purple Star Champions Award Recipients

Brian Holbein

Lt Col (Ret) JROTC Teacher at Great Falls High School

Michael Wonch

 MSgt (Ret) JROTC Teacher at Great Falls High School

Col Christopher Karns

 Mission Support Group Commander, Malmstrom AFB

 

2023-2024 Purple Star Champions Award Recipients

Nick Budeski

High School Counselor at Great Falls High School

Jamie Williams

 Librarian and Instructional Coach at Great Falls High School

Lisa Sapp

 Department of the Air Force School Liaison, Malmstrom AFB

 

2023-2024 Purple Star School Award Recipients

 

Valley Christian School, Missoula MT (renewal)

 

Loy Elementary School, Great Falls, MT (renewal)

 

North Middle School, Great Falls, MT (renewal)

 

CMR High School, Great Falls, MT (renewal)

 

Washington Middle School, Glendive, MT 

 


Montana Students Awarded the NROTC scholarship

 

Claire Downing and Logan Vandenburg, two Montana high school students, were awarded the prestigious Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship (NROTC) scholarship in a special ceremony at the Capitol Building in the Old Supreme Court Chambers April 7, 2021. 

State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and CDR John Hiltz, United States Navy Commanding Office, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Pacific Northwest, attended to honor the students and officially present the scholarship. 

Claire Downing of Helena plans on attending Vanderbilt University. Logan Vandenburg of Hamilton plans on attending Cornell University. 


Claire Downing pictured with mother, Superintendent Elsie Arntzen, and CDR John Hiltz, United States Navy Commanding Office, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Pacific Northwest         Logan Vanderburg and parents with Governor Gianforte, State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen and CDR John Hiltz, United States Navy Commanding Office

 

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