(Helena) – Montana schools are facing tougher standards under a new academic accountability framework. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen announced revamped school accreditation criteria designed to shift the focus heavily toward student performance.
The updated system targets core areas including math and reading proficiency, student attendance, and graduation rates. Superintendent Hedalen emphasized that the goal is to focus on the fundamentals of success, ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education.
Instead of relying on a single year-end test, schools will use an innovative assessment model to track student progress multiple times during the school year. Hedalen noted that testing should be a tool for helping students, not simply a score that arrives after the school year is over, allowing teachers and parents to step in with support when it matters most.
The new framework also reduces administrative paperwork by moving schools to a three-year reporting cycle that began on Tuesday September 8th. Completion of this cycle is required by February.
