Julia Maxwell

The Board of Public Education held a meeting covering various educational reports, including updates on Public Charter Schools, the Indian Education for All initiative, content standards, and assessment data. Key actions included the approval of an Artificial Intelligence in Education Resolution, updates to Public Charter School contracts, and the funding of Transformational Learning Phase II and Montana Advanced Opportunity grants. The Board also reviewed the Annual Educator Licensure Report, discussed the creation of a Seal of Civics Literacy, and addressed Montana School for the Deaf and Blind (MSDB) personnel and contract matters. Additionally, the Board moved forward with rulemaking for the Special Education Technician License and held a strategic planning session.

The presentation from Solomon Group focused on their report regarding performance-based accountability frameworks for charter schools. Key discussion points included the objectives and deliverables of their work, an overview of relevant policy sections emphasizing rigorous, valid, and reliable indicators for performance evaluation, and assessment foundations, distinguishing between criterion-referenced and norm-referenced assessments. The presenters detailed the importance of validity and reliability, alignment with academic proficiency, growth, achievement gaps, and post-secondary readiness. They also discussed considerations and implications related to data stewardship and application review processes for proposed assessments.

The meeting agenda covers multiple sessions scheduled for March 19 and March 20, 2026. Key discussion items include reports from the Chairperson, Executive Director, State Superintendent, Commissioner of Higher Education, and Student Representative. The agenda details actions and updates from various committees. The Charter School Committee will address the execution of new and revised public charter school contracts. The Licensure Committee is scheduled to take action on initial reviews of cases, rulemaking notices for Special Education Technician licenses, and reports on program approvals for ABCTE and Montana State University Billings. The Accreditation Committee will address provisional accreditation status and the intensive assistance process. The Executive Committee has an action item regarding the Montana Advanced Opportunity Grant application for Lame Deer. Additionally, there are tours and activities planned, including a meeting with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Tribal Council, and a strategic planning session focused on the mission and vision. The agenda also lists financial reports for review.

The meeting commenced the first quarter session for 2026. Discussions involved procedural adherence to Robert's Rules of Order, including standing votes. Key business items included the unanimous approval of the consent agenda, which contained minutes from the December 9, 2025 meeting. A motion passed to apply remaining 2025 Bradley grant funds, approximately $26,000, toward a legal retainer for policy compliance review. The commission also debated and subsequently voted to adopt a renewal policy. A significant portion of the discussion centered on the renewal site visit preparation documents, specifically concerns that the sample agenda provided might be too prescriptive, potentially stifling school autonomy, although it was acknowledged as best practice for stakeholder engagement. Further discussion occurred regarding the site visit notes template, focusing on who completes the forms and how inputs are aggregated prior to commission recommendation.

The special meeting addressed the agenda, which included a discussion on out-of-state travel requests for the Montana School for Deaf and Blind's gold ball team. Two travel requests were approved: one to travel to the Washington School for the Blind over Halloween and another to attend a tournament in Colorado Springs. The board also confirmed that staff providing transportation for these trips must complete the state of Montana defensive driving course. A brief public comment section followed, including a mention of new vehicle wrap and advanced driving skills support.