HELENA, Mont. — Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen has launched a new, user-friendly platform making it more convenient for families, educators, community members, and policymakers to access and explore public education data across the state.
“Montanans deserve clear, accessible information about the performance and spending of their public schools,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen. “This new platform gives families and communities an easier way to understand school data, celebrate successes, and stay informed about the progress being made to prepare every Montana student for future opportunities.”
The new Community Engagement platform, powered by PowerSchool, provides public access to Montana’s annual federally required Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) report cards at the state, district, and school levels. The platform offers a modern interface that allows users to search and filter information by school, district, and school year, making education data more accessible and easier to understand.
The ESSA report cards are published annually by OPI to provide a clear picture of how Montana schools are serving students. Report cards include information on academic performance, student achievement and growth, attendance, educator qualifications, school quality and safety, school finances, and other key measures.
Under Montana’s ESSA State Education Plan, schools are evaluated through a comprehensive accountability system that measures multiple indicators of student success. Federally required indicators include academic achievement in English language arts and mathematics, academic growth, English learner progress, and four-year graduation rates. Montana also includes additional indicators such as attendance, college and career readiness, and science proficiency through its STEM indicator.
Schools receive scores only for indicators with sufficient student participation, ensuring data remains meaningful and protects student privacy.
The site includes Guidance Documents to help new users navigate the platform.
The launch of the new platform reflects OPI’s ongoing commitment to improving transparency, increasing public access to education information, and supporting informed decision-making for Montana families and communities.
Members of the public can access report cards through the Montana Office of Public Instruction website. Educators will have access to comparison tools through PowerSchool for student academics and behavioral interventions and supports.