Superintendent Arntzen Submits Montana's Federal Education Plan to Secretary DeVos with Strong Support

December 22, 2017

HELENA--State Superintendent Elsie Arntzen submitted Montana's federal education plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos for her approval today, after speaking with Department officials last week to clarify certain aspects of the plan and make minor technical updates.

"Montana's state plan is the culmination of months of diverse community input from across the state about how we can best prepare all Montana students to succeed," Superintendent Arntzen said Thursday. "I want to thank all the parents, educators, and business, tribal, and community leaders who helped create Montana's ESSA plan and I look forward to it being signed by Secretary DeVos." 

Montana's ESSA Plan will:

• Support academic growth in all of Montana's unique student populations
• Engage families and communities
• Promote local control and flexibility
• Raise mental health and suicide prevention awareness
• Drive focus on STEM and CTE education
• Increase student awareness of opportunities to be community, career, and college ready
• Help recruit and retain high-quality teachers, especially in our rural communities

Montana's ESSA plan has received support from diverse stakeholders across the state, including:

• U.S. Senator Steve Daines
• Governor Steve Bullock
• The Montana Parent Teacher Association
• The Montana Rural Education Association
• The Montana School Counselors Association
• The Montana School Boards Association
• MEA-MFT
• School Administrators of Montana
• The Montana Quality Education Coalition

More information about Montana's ESSA plan

CONTACT: Dylan Klapmeier

Director of Communications, Montana Office of Public Instruction

dylan.klapmeier@mt.gov

406-444-3559