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The trio of young women clasped their hands, bowed their heads and prayed before taking center stage as one of the closing acts of the three-day Montana State Conference on Mental Illness in Billings. One is a 17-year-old flutist in the Helena High School Band and member of the National Honor Society. One is a 16-year-old singer, dancer and cheerleader. One is a 17-year-old rock climber and No. 1 doubles varsity tennis player. And, each has a mental illness.

The Instructional Innovations Unit is excited to provide an incredible online resource for all Montana educators. This professional development data base within the OPI website contains hundreds of video clips, lessons, and resources that can be downloaded onto your computer and iPod.  This resource is a direct result of the Montana Reading First project.  However, it also contains content for teachers Pre-K through high school.  Knowing that statewide professional development is extremely difficult because of the rural nature of our state, the Montana Reading First project director, Debbie Hunsaker, planned and initiated this resource called ‘Knowledge Box’. Throughout the implementation of the Reading First project, national and local presenters were filmed and the content was edited into short video clips, resources, and lessons. To access this resource go to the OPI website www.opi.mt.gov and click on Instructional Innovations under Programs. http://opi.mt.gov/Streamer/Instructional_Innovations/index.php#gpm1_5 For more information, contact BJ Granbery, 444-4420

The 2011 OPI Assessment Conference "On the Horizon" is scheduled for January 20-21, 2011 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.  The keynote speaker on Thursday morning will be Paul Andersen. Paul is a science teacher and technology specialist at Bozeman High School and the 2011 Montana Teacher of the Year. Presentations on assessment and data topics as well as training for the 2011 MontCAS CRT test administration will be available.  For more information and to register for the conference, visit http://www.opi.mt.gov/curriculum/MontCAS/#p7GPc1_5 For more information, contact Judy Snow, 406-444-3656

As we see the first early signs of spring, we know summer can't be far away. Start planning now for summertime activities to help middle and high school students continue their journey toward adulthood. This web conference will touch on ideas such as: Completing the Transition Workbook as a family activity Volunteering Summer jobs Exploring new assistive technology Establishing new connections in the community Continuing and documenting the Discovery process Testing out new leisure activities Learning about support needs...while having fun! The web conference will be held on Monday, March 15th, from 1:00 - 2:30 Mountain Time. 

As we see the first early signs of spring, we know summer can't be far away. Start planning now for summertime activities to help middle and high school students continue their journey toward adulthood. This web conference will touch on ideas such as: Completing the Transition Workbook as a family activity Volunteering Summer jobs Exploring new assistive technology Establishing new connections in the community Continuing and documenting the Discovery process Testing out new leisure activities Learning about support needs...while having fun! The web conference will be held on Monday, March 15th, from 1:00 - 2:30 Mountain Time. 

The Montana Youth Leadership Forum is a unique leadership training program for high school students with disabilities.  Each year the program begins with the Forum that takes place for a week in July where students are brought to the campus of Carroll College for training.  During the Forum students have the opportunity to learn about the history and culture of disability, self advocacy skills, and how the enhance their self esteem.

Burnaby's Steven Cayer isn't even out of high school yet, but he's got his eyes on a future in film and his hands on some one-of-a-kind camera equipment.The 17-year-old Burnaby Mountain student has cerebral palsy and gets around in a power wheelchair. Cayer had a chance to try out a specialized video camera to film some Olympic-related festivities last week.

Zipping along in his wheelchair, Scott Dorfman often must rely on others to open doors for him. But a new device developed by a group of high school students is changing that. The tool called the Operational Portable Entry Device, or O.P.EN., has a mechanical arm with a clamp at one end. It is designed for a wheelchair user like Dorfman, 28, who has cerebral palsy, to open doors without having to lean out of the chair. The device is adjustable and works on a variety of door handles.

Once a week during winter, high school students with disabilities head to Whitefish Mountain Resort to ski, train for the Special Olympics and, above all, have a lot of fun. For many of them, it’s unlike any other experience of their lives. Their ticket to the mountain is DREAM Adaptive Recreation Inc., an organization established in 1985 to give disabled children and adults access to recreational opportunities in the Flathead Valley. DREAM stands for “Disabled Recreation and Environmental Access Movement.”

GLASGOW — The Assiniboine Tribe's rich and complex history is being told in a striking documentary, titled "In the Land of the Assiniboine."

Produced by the Valley County Historical Society and award-winning cinematographers with Camera One Productions, the film is earning high praise and even a place in national museums.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction plans to distribute copies of the documentary to schools statewide and the Smithsonian Institution is selling it at its museums in Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Behind Cornell University’s successful run to the Sweet 16 this week is the inspiration of a couple of young people with autism. And the team’s coach would have it no other way. As the Cornell basketball team tore through Temple and Wisconsin and gets ready to face Kentucky, coach Steve Donahue has been getting coaching advice from an unexpected source — Jason McElwain, or J-Mac, who became a national sensation four years back when he scored 20 points during the last four minutes of his high school basketball game.

Who Should Attend: • School Based Personnel • Physical Therapists • Psychologists • Occupational Therapists • Marriage & Family Therapists • Nurses • Educators • Counselors • Teacher Assistants • Speech Language Pathologists • Special Education Teachers • Social Workers This program is appropriate for all levels of knowledge regarding Asperger’s Syndrome, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and High-Functioning Autism. 

Every parent wants to see his or her child successfully complete high school. Therefore, caring adults in students’ lives need to understand the changing landscape of graduation requirements and diploma options to ensure students graduate prepared for college and careers.

A new tool kit released Thursday is designed to make the transition to adulthood easier for those with autism by giving families an overview of the options and resources available when it comes to housing, employment and other issues. The kit from Autism Speaks was developed by parents and professionals and is geared toward families of those ages 13 to 22. At more than 100 pages, it covers topics ranging from developing self-advocacy skills to sexuality in addition to practical concerns like housing, education and employment options after high school.

Click here to download the flyer for this event (PDF) What: TEAMS is a partnership between Montana State University - College of Engineering and College of Education, Health and Human Development. For more information about TEAMS go to: www.coe.montana.edu/TEAMS Where / When: We are offering a TEAMS workshop at Box Elder 7-8/high school June 16 – 17, 2011 You Should Attend the MSU TEAMS workshop: If you are interested in what engineering can teach us about math and science teaching. You would like to earn a $ stipend, and OPI renewal credit. To work with engineering and education faculty on how engineering applications might work in your math and/or science classrooms. To register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/teamsregistration If you have questions: Contact Sheree Watson at 406-994-6723 or swatson@coe.montana.edu

Click here to download the flyer for this event (PDF) What: Transitioning from life after high school is a big process. You are not alone! Come meet other youth, parents, teachers and professionals to see all the resources that are waiting to work with you. Transition Teams are encouraged to attend. Topics covered: Youth and Adult/Professional Tracks Resource Fair with vendors for independent living, Employment/ training, Recreational, Benefits planning, and more! When: November 9-11, 2011 Where: Heritage Inn Great Falls, MT For registration and additional conference details: www.montanayouthtransitions.org

What: Montana Digital Academy is pleased to announce its first educational technology workshops for teachers. Join MTDA staff as we train on iOS devices in Bozeman or Missoula in June OR join the workshop remotely from any location with a discounted virtual seat! Bozeman: June 21, 2011 10:00am - 5:00pm Mountain Bozeman High School Library OR anywhere virtually To register, click here Missoula: June 30, 2011 10:00am - 5:00pm Mountain University of Montana OR anywhere virtually To register, click here

Academic achievement is a strong predictor of high school graduation and is critical to long-term success in college, work, and life. A sixth grader who fails math or English, has unsatisfactory behavior, or poor attendance has a 75% likelihood of dropping out.

School districts that want to reduce special education spending from one year to the next without restoring what was cut now have the blessing of the U.S. Department of Education. In the past, federal law was interpreted to mean that once a district set its special education budget, it could not be reduced permanently except for very specific reasons. One of those exceptions to the so-called maintenance-of-effort rule were limited to decreased expenses, such as when an experienced, highly paid special education teacher retired or a high-needs student left a district. Cutting the special education budget for other reasons meant a district was running the risk of losing its share of federal funds.

Life is full of transitions, and one of the more remarkable ones occurs when we get ready to leave high school and go out in the world as young adults. When the student has a disability, it's especially helpful to plan ahead for that transition. In fact, IDEA requires it.