Welcome to SAM!

Click HERE for Rob's message to SAM members.

From Rob's Desk! (2024-25)

Updated Dec 3, 2024

1. MT Science of Reading Curriculum Summit:  Wednesday, Nov 13, 12:00 pm - 7:30 pm
   • Renaissance, in partnership with SAM and the Helena School District, invites curriculum/instruction directors and school administrators to a day of learning, networking, and educational insights focused on the Science of Reading. Dr. Lynne Kulich, author of The Fluency Development Lesson: Closing the Reading Gap", will share the latest research on how children learn to read and the cognitive processes behind literacy.  Attendees will also have the opportunity to discuss improving literacy outcomes with legislators 
   • Dr. Lynne Kulich's Science of Reading Presentation, MT Curriculum Summit, Nov 2024
2. 4-Day School Week: University of Montana, Research Report, Oct 2024
   • SAM Executive Summary, Oct 2024
   • Full UM 4DSW Report, Oct 2024
3. OPI Accreditation 2.0 (Year 2 Expectations and Rubrics)
   • NOTE: DUE DATE - Accreditation portal will open early December. Part 2 components will be due end of February.
   • Rubric R, School Climate: Sample Surveys - not the OPI surveys. Put the questions in google form, survey monkey or some other survey tool.
   • Accreditation Part 2, Reference Guide
   • Accreditation Part 2, Sample Template
4. HB 393 (Education Savings Account, School Vouchers)
   • OPIs website for the ESA established with HB393
   • HB393 Bill Language
   • School Vouchers, AZ Story (Presentation from Beth Lewis, Save our Schools AZ, SAM Fall Conference, Sept 2024)
   • The Road to K12 Vouchers has begun in MT, Blog Post from Rob, July 2024
5. STARS Act: Funding Proposal for the 2025 Legislature (AKA TEACH ACT on steroids)
   • STARS Act Concept as presented at the Interim Budget Committee, Sept 2024
   • MTSBA Salary Survey, 2023/24, Base as a % of Average & Est of New Revenue 2025/26
   • Examples of Class 2,3 Districts, potential new funding under STARS
   • MTSBA, Model Language for negiotiations with the STARS Act (Dec 2024)
6. Fall MASS Meetings (Sept - Nov, 2024)
   • Rob's Handout: Fall Regional Meetings, Updated Nov 2024
   • SAM Fall Update, Legislative Primer, Slide Deck (Updated Oct 2)
7. Early Literacy Programs: Jump Start and 4y/o Classroom Based programs
   • Early Literacy Programs for 4y/o - Guidance on ANB & Assessment Window (Updated, Aug 28)
   • Ealry Literacy Programs, Data Collection, OPI Requirements (From the OPI Compass, Sept 2024)
8. Donors Choose, OPI Sponsored Classroom Based Grants, $500
   • Press Release from OPI
   • Considerations for School Admin
     • Teachers apply for grants directly from Donors Choose. (Link in press release.)
     • Resources for these grants are coming from left over ESSER funds from OPI ($1.5M). Donors Choose holds back about 15% in administration fees.
     • As an administrator, you can sign up to be a "District Partner" with Donors Choose. This will allow you to monitor what your teachers are requesting and create an approval process. From OPI: Montana district superintendents and principals can monitor the projects and materials that are shipped to schools through the DonorsChoose District Partnership Program. This program ensures that all materials ordered align with district policy as materials become district/school property.
     • Please notify your clerks about this. If approved, your district will need to account for these gifts/supplies as an official donation to the school district. You likely have a donation policy in your trustees policies.
9. Cell Phone Guidance
   • Cell Phone Toolkit for Schools, produced by Minnesota Principals Association (Nov 2024)
   • Letter Issued to Supt. and Trustees from Govn Gianforte (August 2024)
   • SAM Guidance Document with MTSBA Model Policy re: cell phones (August 2024)
10. SAM Fall Update: legislative primer, school funding, privitization 2.0 (vouchers) (August 2024)
11. Information about MAST (August 2024)
12. Capitol Field Trip? Important info about scheduling a field trip to the MT Capitol. (September 2024)
13. Accreditation Appeal, Announcement from OPI (July 2024)
14. CAMPS Funding Proposal.
    1. K12 Funding Formula Package Discussion  - DRAFT (June, 2024)
    2. CAMPS Proposal, Statewide Spreadsheet, New Funding Proposal (June 2024)

From Rob's Desk! - Quick Links to Contemporary Issues, 2023-24 School Year

1. Federal Update: Title IX. (Updated May 10)
   1. New Title IX Guidance - What Superintendents Need to Know - AASA
   2. New Title IX Guidance, detailed update of major changes, AASA
   3. AASA Title IX Webinar, May 6: Download the webinar recording.
   4. AASA Title IX Webinar, May 6, Slide Deck
2. Advocacy:
   1. CAMPS Statement to Education Interim Committee, March 2024
   2. SAM Comments to Board of Public Ed regarding new Graduation Requirements, May 2024
3. Open Enrollment Policy - HB203 (Effective July 1, 2024)
   1. MTSBA Model Policy, 3141
   2. OPI Form, Attendance & Tuition: FP 14.1
   3. Tuition Calculator (Created by MASBO. Download this excel file)
   4. SAM Webinar: Feb 22, 2024, recording
   5. Suggestions for incorporating enrollment restrictions in your strategic plan. (Or you ISAP)
   6. FAQ Document produced by MASBO, MTSBA, MQEC, MREA (Updated March 22 - 2024)
4. Recording Board Meetings - HB890. (Effective July 1, 2024)
   1. MTSBA Model Policy, 1420
   2. List of Districts required to record Board Meetings
      1. HB890 applies to Class 1 and Class 2 Districts
      2. If you have questions about the classification of your district, speak with your County Superintendent
   3. SAM Webinar: Feb 22, 2024
5. New Graduation Requirements: SAM Topic Brief - New Graduation Requirements: summary document which explains addition of Financial Literacy to graduation requirements under revised Chapter 55.  (Effective for graduating class of 2026)
   1. Course List from OPI  (Financial Literacy: OPI has provided this list as guidance for districts who are making changes to their programs for the addition of financial literacy. OPI has also stated that districts can request a variance through the variance to standards process.)
6. Guidelines for Establishing a Early Literacy/Targeted Intervention Program with HB352
   1. Updated Early Childhood Standards (Tchr licensure, class size, education standards) - Updated March 2024
   2. Evaluation Framework & Requirements (For both PreK and Jumpstart) - Updated March 2024
   3. List of Approved Evaluation Tools - Updated March 2024
   4. Early Literacy Advisory Council recommendations to MT Board of Public Education, Nov 15, 2023
   5. SAM Early Literacy Webinar, Nov 9, 2023
   6. Early Literacy Resources from OPI (sample letters to parents)
7. MT New Accreditation Process: Important links
   1. SAM Webinar: Accreditation, October 2023
   2. SAM Webinar: Accreditation 2.0, January 2023
   3. OPI Sample Accreditation Template
   4. General outline for a strategic plan. (ISAP)
   5. Accreditation Guidance Document
   6. MT OPI Accreditation Website
   7. SAMPLE Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Needs Assessment - Evergreen School District
   8. SAMPLE ISAP - Power Public Schools and Accreditation Cheat Sheet - Power Public Schools
   9. Comprehensive Needs Assessment, Sample Surveys - not the OPI surveys. Put the questions in google form, survey monkey or some other survey tool.
8. HB332, Health Insurance Trust for MT School Employees, FAQ Document, March 2024
9. Technology or Safety Levy Survey Data: statewide survey data showing support for these types of levies in MT.
10. Educator Licensure Fees: Final approved list by Board of Public Ed, Approved at their November Meeting, New fees start January 1.
11. SAM Topic Brief -  3Ps Bill List: 2023 legislative summary, reference guide to bills that impact Policy, Procedures & Practices.
12. 95 Mills Discussion: MTSBA Memo drafted by Lance Melton in August 2023, describes history and legal requirements of 95 Mills calculation.
13. Connecting with OPI: Information and links regarding weekly "office hours" hosted by OPI staff as well as other ways to connect with OPI.