The Montana Board of Public Education (BPE) held its bi-monthly meeting at Park High September 12 and 13, bringing representatives from across the state to conduct official business and visit several Livingston schools to hear about local education initiatives.
Work-Based learning coordinator Janine Ensign took six students from the program to present to the BPE at East Side School, asking them to briefly explain what they are currently pursuing and how the program has helped them. The students were Alivia Duffy, Noah Craig, Faith Todd, Annalece Frederickson, Landess O’Dea and Sophie Sestrich.
Each of the students presented for about a minute. Sestrich explained how she was placed at the veterinary clinic and how shadowing the vet has given her new skills that will help her when she is a vet. Sestrich also has an apprenticeship.
O’Dea is currently placed at Livingston Healthcare where she shadows a nurse because she wants to be a CNA. O’Dea has watched many procedures like a C-section and she has taken blood from humans as well. On top of her placement at the hospital, O’Dea is taking a college course class at Montana Tech to be certified as a CNA.
Frederickson wants to be an anesthetist and is placed at Livingston Healthcare shadowing a nurse. Duffy also wants to be CNA but is currently helping out with the special education unified P.E. at Park High. Duffy mentioned that she also wants to help people who are struggling with mental disorders.
Craig wants to go to pilot school but since it isn’t cheap he has been using his photography skills to earn money. Craig has been taking photos for high school seniors at a discount and putting that money towards his pilot school. He also takes more than one type of photography other than portraits. Craig promotes his work by handing out business cards and through social media.
Lastly, Todd has been enrolled in pilot school for quite awhile and she is almost certified. Todd has already flown a plane before and is still working towards her certification. For work based learning Todd has been working over at East Side with Megan Brenna and shadowing her as she teaches. Todd has no interest in the education department but she does love spending time with Brenna.
In Park High Library , a representative for the state Superintendent of Public Instruction gave a report on the 23-24 State Assessment Results. Cedar Rose, OPI Assessment Director, showed graphs about the data on the ACT,which all juniors in the state take annually. In math it showed that fewer students were proficient in the 11th grade compared to the same group when in 7th grade because of disruptions in learning due to the pandemic. The scores did improve quite a bit in 22-23 and this past year they remained stagnant.
Proficiency Rates in English Language Arts measured by the ACT also declined after the pandemic, but Rose said gains have been made in the past two years. “The later you experience the pandemic learning loss, the earlier you’re able to recover,” said Rose, explaining why high school students recovered lost learning faster than younger students.
The average junior composite ACT score has decreased in the state since 2015-2016, from 20.0 to 19.5, according to the report.