Montana Office of Public Instruction

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is the state education agency of Montana. Elsie Arntzen currently serves as the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction. The agency is headquartered in Helena.

Montana
Office of Public Instruction
Agency overview
JurisdictionState of Montana
HeadquartersHelena, Montana
Annual budget$1.009 billion (2019)
Agency executive
Websiteopi.mt.gov

The people of Montana have elected a Superintendent of Public Instruction as one of the five members of the executive branch since 1889. By law, the superintendent has general supervision of the K-12 public schools and school districts. The superintendent also serves as a member of the Land Board,[1] the State Library Commission,[2] and as an ex officio non-voting member of the Board of Public Education,[3] the Board of Regents,[4] and the Board of Education.[5]

School data 2018-19[6]

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School Data 2018-2019
Elementary Schools 435
Middle, 7&8, Junior High Schools 217
High Schools 171
Total Schools 823

School graduation rates

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School Year Graduation Rate[7]
2017-2018 86.39%
2016-2017 85.83%
2015-2016 85.64%
2014-2015 86.04%
2013-2014 85.43%
2012-2013 84.41%

Denise Juneau 2009-2017

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Denise Juneau took office on January 5, 2009. In that same year tobacco use among Montana teens declined[8] and student Student ACT scores were reporting up in 2009 from 2008. However, those two 2009 reported successes were attributed to the previous superintendent of Public Instruction, Linda McCulloch.[9] In that same year math scores showed that Montana fourth and eighth–graders continued to test above the national average,[10] and the number of students who struggle with reading was down from 2008.[11]

In 2009, Montana's leadership in key Indian Education policies was recognized.[12] Bozeman middle–school student Marina Dimitrov became America's Top Young Scientist.[13] The National Indian Education Association named Denise Juneau 2009 Educator of the Year,[14] and under Juneau's leadership Montana became one of only seven states receiving grants to increase the number of graduates.[15]

At the end of 2009, Montana was awarded grants for schools to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to students.[16] Juneau also promoted local agriculture through farm to school programs.[17]

Montana Superintendents of Public Instruction

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Name Years
Elsie Arntzen 2017–Present
Denise Juneau 2009–2017
Linda McCulloch 2001–2009
Nancy Keenan 1989–2001
Ed Argenbright 1981–1989
Georgia Ruth Rice 1977–1981
Dolores Colburg 1969–1977
Harriet Miller[18] 1957–1969
Mary M. Condon 1949–1957
Elizabeth Ireland 1941–1949
Ruth Reardon 1937–1941
Mary Trumper 1917–1929
Henry A. Davee 1905–1917
W. W. Welch 1901–1905
E. W. Carlton 1897–1901
E. A. Steere 1893–1897
John Gannon 1889–1893

References

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  1. ^ "DNRC Commissions & Committees". Dnrc.mt.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  2. ^ [1] Archived September 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ [2] Archived March 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Montana University System | Montana Colleges, Universities and Community Colleges". Mus.edu. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  5. ^ "Montana OPI Media Center". Opi.mt.gov. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  6. ^ "Facts About Montana Education 2019" (PDF). Montana Office of Public Instruction. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "Summary Graduation report". The Montana Office of Public Instruction. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  8. ^ "Smoking rate decreases among Montana youth". Billingsgazette.com. 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  9. ^ "Montana's students above average in ACT scores". Helenair.com. 2009-08-20. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  10. ^ "Montana math scores above average". Billingsgazette.com. 2009-10-15. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  11. ^ "11/10/09 - New Study of Montana Reading First Finds Substantial Progress, Struggling Readers Reduced". Opi.mt.gov. 2009-11-10. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  12. ^ "10/30/09 - Montana Leads the Region in Key Education Policies". Opi.mt.gov. 2009-10-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  13. ^ "Bozeman girl wins America's top young scientist award - The Bozeman Daily Chronicle: News". The Bozeman Daily Chronicle. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  14. ^ "NIEA names Denise Juneau Indian Educator of the Year". Nativetimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  15. ^ "Montana gets grant for grads". Billingsgazette.com. 2009-11-23. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  16. ^ "Schools get grants to offer fresh fruit, veggies". Billingsgazette.com. 2009-10-30. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  17. ^ "Ag producers, consumers pushing farm-to-table concept". Billingsgazette.com. 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
  18. ^ Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Index to Politicians: Miller, G to I". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2013-10-27.
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