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Board hears legislative wrap‑up, OPI outlines STARS Act implementation and assessment plans
Summary
At its May 15 meeting in Great Falls the Montana Board of Public Education received a legislative wrap‑up and implementation plan for the STARS Act, heard OPI’s assessment and data modernization priorities, and was told an alternate‑assessment change will be on the board agenda tomorrow.
The Montana Board of Public Education met May 15 at the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls and received an update on the recent legislative session and next steps for implementing several bills that affect K‑12 education.
Virginia Hedwig, state superintendent, told the board OPI has contacted every district about the STARS Act and that "as of this morning, we had 366 out of 418 schools had certified" participation, and said OPI created an alternative PDF certification for districts with difficulties accessing the online submission system. Hedwig said OPI will publish a legislative implementation packet with next steps and timelines for districts and school leaders.
Executive staff and board members discussed a set of bills the agency tracked during the session, including HB28 (agency/timeline flexibility), HB252 (STARS Act), HB153 (decennial study seat for the board), HB338 and HB628 (adding early numeracy into targeted early literacy interventions), and SB181 (tribal consultation and reporting elements). Board members were told some bills require rulemaking or new reporting when the governor signs final budgets or bills.
Hedwig also described OPI’s data modernization plans to use direct connectors to districts’ student information systems so the agency can build interactive dashboards and near‑live report cards while maintaining FERPA and privacy protections. She highlighted that the agency did not receive all requested implementation FTE or developer support in the budget and that some work will proceed on a phased basis.
On federal funding, Hedwig said OPI had received IDEA and Title I Part A funds and is awaiting other title program allocations; staff will send weekly technical updates to districts while OPI completes preliminary allocation calculations.
Board members pressed OPI staff on school outreach and the timeline for implementation. Hedwig said OPI will coordinate with the board, the governor’s office, and other partners to finalize guidance and support for districts.
The meeting packet included a legislative wrap‑up listing bills OPI testified on or monitored and highlighted items that will require board attention during rulemaking and implementation work.
The board recessed for lunch and scheduled further action items and presentations for the afternoon and for its next business day when the alternate‑assessment proposal will be on the agenda for a formal vote.
