State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Arntzen Announces Task Force Members for English Language Arts Content Standards Revision
HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen has appointed teachers, school administrators, and education leaders from around Montana to the English Language Arts (ELA) Content Standards Revision Task Force. The Task Force will conduct research and review of the ELA State Content Standards that are housed in Chapter 53 of the Administrative Rules of Montana and suggest revisions to Superintendent Arntzen. These revisions will then move to a Negotiated Rulemaking Committee before being adopted by the Board of Public Education.
“Reading is the foundation of academic success for our children,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “These reading standards have not been updated in over ten years – our students, parents, and teachers deserve better. During my time as Superintendent, I have continually emphasized my Montana Learn initiative, which focuses on educational excellence for all Montana students.”
"The Superintendent has approved an ELA Standards Revision Task Force comprised of incredible educators from across the state that truly represent the rich tapestry of Montana's educational landscape," said Stephanie Swigart, ELA Content Specialist. "In fostering shared understanding around the research and collegial collaboration between our Writing and Review Teams, we're ensuring that the revised ELA standards reflect a comprehensive understanding of educational needs across all grade levels."
The Task Force is structured into two core teams: the Writing Team and the Review Team. The Writing Team is tasked with crafting standards tailored to specific grade levels. The Review Team is tasked with reviewing and refining the suggested revisions. The Writing Team members are:
- Barbara Frank, Missoula
- Dana Fitzgale, Florence
- Genevieve Thomas, Whitefish
- Stephanie Lester, Montana City
- Amber Byrd, Helena
- Abby Kuhl, Helena
- Kari Dahl Huff, Billings
- Shannin Preshinger, Helena
- Will Dickerson, Bozeman
- Dana Haring, Kalispell
- Karen Polari, Sidney
- Antonia Malchik, Whitefish
- Kristina Matthews, Highwood
- Casey Olsen, Columbus
- Jeff Ross, Lolo/Belt
- Kathy Pfaffinger, Billings
- Erin Hunt, Helena
- Caitlin Chiller, Livingston
The Review Team members are:
- Jeanne Wdowin, Kalispell
- Andrea Meiers, Billings
- Beverly Chin, Missoula
- Tammy Elser, Missoula/Pablo
The timeline for the Task Force's activities is as follows:
- May 3, 2024: Task Force Deep Dive on Research
- June 10-13th, 2024: Virtual Writing Preparation Meetings
- July- August 2024: Standards Development Workshops
- July 15th-19th: Writing Team Writing Workshop
- July 19th-22nd: The Review Team
- July 29th-30th: Review Team Meeting Review of Drafted Standards
- July 31st: Review Team Feedback Session to the Writing Team
- August 8th, 2024: Reconciliation Meeting
- August 12-15th: Potential/Optional Final Reconciliation
- August 22, 2024: Proposed ELA Standards presented to the Superintendent
The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee will meet from September 2024 - December 2024 to finalize the proposed ELA State Content Standards.
For more information contact Stephanie Swigart, ELA Standards Revision Task Force Coordinator, at stephanie.swigart@mt.gov.
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