Transformational Learning Opportunities:

Virtual & Online Schooling:

• Montana Digital Academy is the state’s public virtual school, which also provides supplemental online courses. There are no multi-district online schools, but the Billings Public Schools offered virtual learning in the 2023-24 school year.

• Montana has recently seen the passage of two significant pieces of legislation that have a notable impact on virtual learning. HB 214 authorized open-enrollment in virtual learning courses, while HB 396 allows non-public school students to partially enroll in public schools, including online options. HB 749 will allow Montana Digital Academy to grow, given changing teacher licensure requirements and the program’s scope. 

Digital Learning Resources:

• The state’s Teacher Learning Hub is a robust online learning platform free for educators to earn units to renew their license and increase their digital literacy skills.The state has digital learning resources on their website, which include tools such as Montana EdReady, Google Classroom, Microsoft Team for Educators, FlipGrid, and EdPuzzle.

• Curious about your district’s internet access? ConnectK-12 provides state- and district-specific information on access to the recommended bandwidth speeds and monthly internet costs. 

Career & Technical and/or Work-based Education:

• Montana statute allows schools to offer work-based learning opportunities. The state also has legislation that allows students to earn credits towards graduation for work-based learning activities.

• Nearly 175 high schools in Montana participate in Career and Technical Education programs, providing students in both middle and high schools with the ability to gain real world career and work-based experience. 

Personalized, Competency- and/or Mastery-based Learning:

• In 2021, the governor authorized every school district in the state to establish individualized, work-based learning paths for students.

• Montana demonstrates their support for personalized learning through funding. The Montana Advanced Opportunity Act provides funding to districts with the aim of broadening personalized opportunities for students to advance their college and career readiness while lessening expenses for families. Its objective is to enable students to actively shape their successful paths after high school, granting increased flexibility and advanced opportunity aid to districts in supporting each student's journey.

• The Transformational Learning Bill serves as a vehicle for funding personalized learning programs in schools and districts, with the goal of fostering personalized learning through STEM curriculum, VR, AR, and other technologies.