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HELENA - Superintendent Arntzen released the 2023-2024 federally mandated end-of-the-year summative assessment scores for Montana today. The summative Math, Reading, or English Language Arts (ELA), assessments for grades 3-8 and 11 are required through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). “While math scores are on the rise, our reading scores are still declining,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The 10-hour end-of-the-year test does not accurately reflect student achievement. This is wh...
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen will host the ninth monthly virtual community discussion focusing on the implementation of HB 549, Authorizing establishment of public charter schools by Representative Fred Anderson. This discussion will be held on February 28, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Zoom and will be moderated by the Office of Public Instruction’s Chief Legal Counsel, Rob Stutz. These are open opportunities for parents, families, teachers, school leaders, and legislators to participate. The theme is Local Accountability: How Rec...
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is encouraging Montana parents to discuss the dangers of vaping with their children. According to the national results of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Montana and Louisiana tied for the second-highest prevalence of current e-cigarette use among high school students. The use of e-cigarettes among high school students around the country shows: • West Virginia has the highest prevalence of use at 27.5% • Montana and Lousiana have the second-highest prevalence of use at 25.5% • Montana high school seniors...
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen opened day one of a three-day meeting of the Montana Math Standards Revision Taskforce. The purpose of the standards review process is to assure that Montana public schools are setting high academic standards for all children of our great state. The goal is to serve our Montana students and educators with the best possible mathematics standards to guide instruction and prepare our students for their lives beyond the classroom. “Math is the foundation of learning and emphasizes my Back to Basics message,” said...
HELENA – Following collaboration with Tribal leaders in Montana, Superintendent Arntzen submitted newly proposed rules on the Montana Indian Language Preservation (MILP) program to the Montana Secretary of State. During the 68th legislative session, HB 287, sponsored by Representative Jonathan Windy Boy, was passed into law. HB 287 revises § 20-9-537, MCA, the Montana Indian Language Preservation program, to require tribes and partnering school districts to preserve and perpetuate Indian languages to help meet the state's educational goal of...
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen will open automatic enrollment for free and reduced-price school meals on July 1, 2023. Automatic enrollment, or direct certification, will use Medicaid data to determine student eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service included Montana as one of 15 new states that will test the impact of Medicaid Direct Certification for the 2023-2024 school year. “Montana is a proud innovator in a program to cut government waste,” said Super...
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen will host monthly virtual discussions focusing on education legislation passed during the 68th legislative session. The discussions are open to parents, families, teachers, school leaders, and legislators. The theme of these discussions is Local Accountability: How Recent Legislation Affects Families, Students, and Communities. All discussions will take place from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Zoom and will be moderated by the Office of Public Instruction’s Chief Legal Counsel. “Local accountability can only be achie...
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen has decided to reopen applications for the Stronger Connections Grant (SCG) based on the remaining funds and the needs of Montana school districts. Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) of June 2022, the Montana Office of Public Instruction was awarded $4.8 million in additional funding for Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Funds are awarded through a competitive subgrant application process. “Prioritizing the needs of our Montana schools are recognized through this grant,...
