Executive Director Message

Welcome to SAM!

Click HERE for Rob's message to SAM members.

From Rob's Desk! (2026-2027)

Updated, Oct 8, 2026

School Funding Interim Commission (SFIC)
OPI Accreditation
- Which Regions are in the accreditation cycle the 2026/27 School Year?
- New Accreditation Rubrics, Approved for Fall 2026
- Recording of Accreditation Training, July 29, 2026 (At the SAM Summer Conference)
- Emergency Authorized Staff, OPI Guidance Document, Released July 1, 2026
Future Ready Incentive (Data Collection due on Oct 30)
- What do I need to know for Graduating Class of 2026
  - SAM Webinar, Oct 8, 2026: Recording Here
    - OPI Presentation Slides from SAM Webinar
  - AP/Dual Enrollment Guidance - OCHE Future Ready Toolkit
  - Dual Enrollment vs. Concurrent Enrollment and AP guidance. - SAM Guidance Document
  - Industry Recognized Certification (approved for Grad class of 26) - Dept of Labor, Credential Registry, Class of 26
  - OPI Guidance to Future Ready Payment - OPI Website, STARS
- Thinking Ahead: Important Links for Graduating class of 27 and future years.
  - What counts as Industry Recognized Credential for the graduating class of 27? Dept of Labor, Final Credential Registry, Class of 27
  - What counts towards Work-Based Learning for the graduating class of 27? Dept of Labor, Work Based Learning Rule, Class of 27
  - How do I request a credential to be added to the list? How do I request a work-based learning experience to be added to the list?- Dept of Labor, Montana Credential Registry
Special Education Technician Information
- What is required to achieve the license? ARM 10.57.439
- What duties can the technician perform? Draft Rules 10.55.725
IEFA, ACLU Settlement Agreement - What do schools need to do?
- Post the Settlement Class Action Notice asap, until October 26
- Email the notice to parents, asap (no later than Sept 24)
- Each district should confirm with ACLU that you have completed these steps by Sept 14.
  - Please promptly complete these steps and confirm that the district has done so by September 14 to Alex Rate (ratea@aclumontana.org). If you have questions about the required notice process, please contact Alex Rate at ratea@aclumontana.org.
- Questions from Parents?
  - A reminder, questions should be directed to ACLU and/or OPI as this court settlement agreement has been made between those two entities. You should include contact info for ACLU in your notice sent to parents.
  - However, if you have concerned staff, parents, or community members - it may be helpful to know that due to recent legislation - your district/school is already complying with several pieces of the IEFA settlement. For example, recording IEFA activities is now part of your accreditation process AND a new accounting process for IEFA expenditures is something that should be completed by your clerk/business office. Failure to account for expenses correctly could result in a loss of IEFA funds in future years. Each of these new accountability processes were passed in recent legislation and now confirmed by this court settlement.
- Other Questions?
  - Original EMAIL from ACLU
  - Legal advice from MSTBA and Kaleva Law

Rob's Desk Issues: 2025-2026

MAST Information
- State Proficiency Levels (MAST Cut Scores)
- MAST Standard Setting Process (July 2025), Observation report
- IEP Options as per OPI Settlement Agreement (September 2025)
- Alternate Assessment is a NEW format this year. Produced by Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
- DLM Alternative Standards: ELA, MATH
- FAQ: Missing one question on a testlet and scoring at Level 2?
SAM 2025 Legislative Implementation
- SAM Legislative Short-Cut, 3Ps (Policy, Procedure, Practice) Bill List
- HB745 Backgound Checks
- HB 338: Adding Numeracy to Early Literacy Programs
  - Recommendations from Early Targeted Intervention Advisory Council
    - Numeracy Skills & Assessment - Page 8
    - Class Size Changes - Page 16
- HB252, STARS Act, Future Ready Program
  - Future Ready Payment Incentive - General Guidance
  - SAM Webinar, November, 2025
- HB819 Implementation (Flag Bill)
  - OPI Guidance Letter, Oct 2025
- HB471 Implementation (Sex Ed Bill)
  - OPI Guidance Letter, Oct 2025
- HB591 Implementation (Freedom Week)
- HB400 Freedom to Speak Act
  - MCA 49-2-307 (Unlawful Discriminatory Practices)
  - MCA 20-1-233 (Certain district policies prohibited)
OCHE Webinars, Future Ready Payment Info
Level All: FREE Career Connected Learning tool for all MT schools
Teacher Apprenticeship Program Resources
- Dept of Labor Tchr Apprenticeship Website. (NEW - January 2026)
  - Informational Webinar: March 25, 11AM (SIGN UP IS ON THE DEPT of LABOR WEBSITE)
- General Information
  - General Considerations for Schools
  - Considerations when recruiting teacher candidates
Immigration Enforcement involving schools: guidance (Feb 2026)
- MTSBA Guidance, Feb 2026
- SAM Issue Brief, Immigration Enforcement, Jan 2026
The School Funding Interim Commission (AKA The Decennial Study), 2025-2027
- The Timeline of Work
- School Funding Interim Commission, MT Legislative Website
- DRAFT Recommendations Report, January 2026
- Relevant MT Laws Related to the Decennial Study and School Funding
  - HB153, Passed in the 2025 Session, Defines the scope and priorities
  - MCA 20-9-309, Legislative definition of "quality education" components
CAMPS Funding Proposal, Prepared for School Funding Interim Commission
Open Enrollment & Remote Instruction, OPI Clarifies the ANB implications
- Memo to Superintendents from OPI, May 2025
- Updated Memo to Superintendents (After HB250 becomes effective), July 1, 2025

ARCHIVES - FROM ROBS DESK, PREVIOUS YEARS

Quick Links to Contemporary Issues, 2024-25 School Year

Quick Links to Contemporary Issues, 2023-24 School Year