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Montana Office of Public Instruction's Executive Staff
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Monday, November 7, 2016
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau announced today that the Montana Office of Public Instruction has been awarded an additional $1.3 million to continue its Schools of Promise program, which provides intensive support to Montana schools most in need.
The federal School Improvement Grant announced Monday is in addition to a $1.5 million award granted in July.
“Schools of Promise is taking on the deep, intensive work required to boost achievement in schools that are surrounded by concentrated and isolated poverty,” Superintendent Juneau said. “Schools of Promise has allowed us to focus on supporting students’ mental health needs, boosts student engagement, and provides unique training for local school boards and educators. This work is difficult, but it’s making a big difference.”
Since Superintendent Juneau launched Schools of Promise in 2010, nine schools in six Indian Reservation communities have participated.
The Hechinger Report and The Nation have called Juneau’s Schools of Promise “The best program the country currently has for turning around native schools.”
The U.S. Department of Education’s $2.8 million grant will fund Montana’s two current Schools of Promise, Heart Butte High School and Hays-Lodge Pole High School.
Superintendent Juneau’s Schools of Promise has been a model for the U.S. Department of Education in how it shapes grant requirements when it comes to including student engagement and mental health wrap-around services.
Schools of Promise is funded entirely by federal grant money. In a tie vote, the Montana Legislature voted down a bill that would provide additional state funding to build on the successes of Schools of Promise.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, business and school leaders have unveiled career readiness guidance to help public schools measure whether students are ready for the workforce.
The guidance comes after a year of work from her Montana College and Career Readiness Standards Commission (MCCRS).
“Educators have always had clear guidance on what it means to ensure students are ready for college, it’s been more difficult to develop a framework around career readiness,” Superintendent Juneau said. “In working with business leaders and educators, we’ve established a definition of and ways to measure career readiness, which will help students gain the skills they need to be ready for jobs.”
The career readiness guide addresses academic and technical skills, employability skills, and work ethic and professionalism skills.
Educators, students and parents can use the guide’s measures to determine career readiness. The measures include identifying a career pathway, community service, work-based learning experience, and completion of a rigorous high school curriculum.
School districts across the state are partnering with industry to offer work-based learning programs, internships, and even professional certificates and credentials. Through Graduation Matters Montana, more than 450 businesses have established partnerships with their local schools.
Click here to view the complete Career Readiness Guide.
Last Modified: Friday October 28 2016
"The Montana Office of Public Instruction provides vision, advocacy, support and leadership for schools and communities to ensure that all students meet today's challenges and tomorrow's opportunities."
The Montana Office of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau, Superintendent • P.O. Box 202501 Helena, Montana 59620-2501 • In-State Toll-Free 1.888.231.9393, Local (406) 444.3095
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