State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Arntzen Opens Negotiated Rulemaking Committees for Content Standards Revisions
HELENA - Superintendent Elsie Arntzen has opened two Negotiated Rulemaking Committees (NRC) on Math Content Standards and World Languages Content Standards for revisions. The Math NRC will meet on:
- November 14, 2023, from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM in room 152 at the state Capitol. Public comment is welcome via Zoom.
- November 15, 2023, from 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM in the Montana Room at 1300 11th Ave (OPI). Public comment is welcome via Zoom.
The World Languages NRC will meet on November 13, 2023, from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM in room 152 at the state Capitol. Public comment is welcome via Zoom.
Content standards are housed in Chapter 53 and Chapter 54 of the Administrative Rules of Montana. These standards are used to develop curriculum at the local level. They describe what students shall know, understand, and be able to do in the content areas. The purpose of the standards review process is to ensure that Montana public schools are setting high academic standards for all students.
“These negotiated rulemaking committees are about transparency and community engagement in education,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Our Math Content Standards are over 10 years old, and our World Language Content Standards are over 20 years old. Our Montana students deserve standards that reflect the education of today.”
The negotiated rulemaking process is required by § 20-7-101, MCA, when changes to school accreditation and content standard rules occur. The Negotiated Rulemaking Committee’s recommended changes to the Math and World Languages Content Standards will be presented to the Board of Public Education (BPE) in January 2024.
This process is transparent and includes an opportunity for public comment during every session. The Superintendent encourages members of the public to let their voices be heard during the public comment sessions. To assist the public, the Superintendent has made the meeting times, agendas, and online links available.
The members of the Math NRC are:
- Brooke Taylor - Billings - K-12 Teacher, Parent
- Brooke Tuft - Whitefish - Grandparent, Taxpayer
- Carrie Fisher - Belgrade - School District Business Official
- Chris Olszewski - Billings - School Administrator
- Elaine Cummins - Billings - School District Business Official, Montana Indian Tribe Representative
- Julie Murgel - Helena - Office of Public Instruction
- June Ellestad - Lolo - Taxpayer, Retired Educator
- Kathy Milodragovich - Butte - School District Trustee, K-12 Teacher, Retired Educator
- Katie McCrea - Pryor - Higher Education, K-12 Teacher, Parent
- Lynne Rider - Kalispell - Higher Education, K-12 Teacher
- Robert Griffith - Great Falls - Taxpayer, Retired Educator
- Teri Dierenfield - Kalispell - K-12 Teacher
The members of the World Languages NRC are:
- Charlene Jonsson, K-12 Teacher – Savage
- Carolyn Rusche - Instructional Coach, Montana Tribe Representative – Shepard
- Norah Barney – K-12 Administrator, Curriculum Director – Anaconda
- Garth Sleight – Higher Education, Miles City
- Erik Pritchard – K-12 Teacher, East Helena
- Kerri Norick – School District Trustee, K-12 Educator, Parent - Bozeman
- Kevin Kicking Woman – K-12 Teacher, Montana Tribe Representative – Browning
- Carrie Fisher – School Business Official – Butte
- Kathy Milodragovich – School District Trustee, Retired Educator – Butte
- Julie Murgel, OPI
- Christy Mock-Stutz, OPI
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