Executive Director Message
Welcome to SAM!
Click HERE for Rob's message to SAM members.
From Rob's Desk! (2024-25)
Updated April 30, 2025
- Facilitated Consensus for School Problem Solving
- Upcoming Trainings:
- NASSP/NAESP State Directors Conference (May 5-9, 2025)
- Western MT CSPD - Summer Institute (June 10-12, 2025)
- Workshop description and outline, Updated April 2025
- Upcoming Trainings:
- Information about Title VI Certification Form from OPI - DUE April 24
- Title VI, Dear Colleague letter from Office of Civil Rights
- 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's Science of Reading Presentation, MT Curriculum Summit, Nov 2024
- 4-Day School Week: University of Montana, Research Report, Oct 2024
- 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
- 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
- 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)
- Fall MASS Meetings (Sept - Nov, 2024)
- 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)
- Donors Choose, OPI Sponsored Classroom Based Grants, $500
- 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)
- SAM Fall Update: legislative primer, school funding, privitization 2.0 (vouchers) (August 2024)
- Information about MAST (August 2024)
- Capitol Field Trip? Important info about scheduling a field trip to the MT Capitol. (September 2024)
- Accreditation Appeal, Announcement from OPI (July 2024)
From Rob's Desk! - Quick Links to Contemporary Issues, 2023-24 School Year
- Federal Update: Title IX. (Updated May 10)
- New Title IX Guidance - What Superintendents Need to Know - AASA
- New Title IX Guidance, detailed update of major changes, AASA
- AASA Title IX Webinar, May 6: Download the webinar recording.
- AASA Title IX Webinar, May 6, Slide Deck
- Advocacy:
- CAMPS Statement to Education Interim Committee, March 2024
- SAM Comments to Board of Public Ed regarding new Graduation Requirements, May 2024
- Open Enrollment Policy - HB203 (Effective July 1, 2024)
- MTSBA Model Policy, 3141
- OPI Form, Attendance & Tuition: FP 14.1
- Tuition Calculator (Created by MASBO. Download this excel file)
- SAM Webinar: Feb 22, 2024, recording
- Suggestions for incorporating enrollment restrictions in your strategic plan. (Or you ISAP)
- FAQ Document produced by MASBO, MTSBA, MQEC, MREA (Updated March 22 - 2024)
- Recording Board Meetings - HB890. (Effective July 1, 2024)
- MTSBA Model Policy, 1420
- List of Districts required to record Board Meetings
- HB890 applies to Class 1 and Class 2 Districts
- If you have questions about the classification of your district, speak with your County Superintendent
- SAM Webinar: Feb 22, 2024
- 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)
- 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.)
- Guidelines for Establishing a Early Literacy/Targeted Intervention Program with HB352
- Updated Early Childhood Standards (Tchr licensure, class size, education standards) - Updated March 2024
- Evaluation Framework & Requirements (For both PreK and Jumpstart) - Updated March 2024
- List of Approved Evaluation Tools - Updated March 2024
- Early Literacy Advisory Council recommendations to MT Board of Public Education, Nov 15, 2023
- SAM Early Literacy Webinar, Nov 9, 2023
- Early Literacy Resources from OPI (sample letters to parents)
- MT New Accreditation Process: Important links
- SAM Webinar: Accreditation, October 2023
- SAM Webinar: Accreditation 2.0, January 2023
- OPI Sample Accreditation Template
- General outline for a strategic plan. (ISAP)
- Accreditation Guidance Document
- MT OPI Accreditation Website
- SAMPLE Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Needs Assessment - Evergreen School District
- SAMPLE ISAP - Power Public Schools and Accreditation Cheat Sheet - Power Public Schools
- Comprehensive Needs Assessment, Sample Surveys - not the OPI surveys. Put the questions in google form, survey monkey or some other survey tool.
- HB332, Health Insurance Trust for MT School Employees, FAQ Document, March 2024
- Technology or Safety Levy Survey Data: statewide survey data showing support for these types of levies in MT.
- Educator Licensure Fees: Final approved list by Board of Public Ed, Approved at their November Meeting, New fees start January 1.
- SAM Topic Brief - 3Ps Bill List: 2023 legislative summary, reference guide to bills that impact Policy, Procedures & Practices.
- 95 Mills Discussion: MTSBA Memo drafted by Lance Melton in August 2023, describes history and legal requirements of 95 Mills calculation.
- Connecting with OPI: Information and links regarding weekly "office hours" hosted by OPI staff as well as other ways to connect with OPI.