Montana Education Resources
Parent Support
Parents have the right to invite individuals to IEP meetings who can assist, support or benefit the parent, student or IEP Team in IEP development. For parents, this individual may be a relative, friend, case manager, counselor, provider or advocate.
Staff are available to help answer parent questions regarding special education, 406-444-5661.
(CIL) in Montana may have education advocates that can support and assist families and children/youth with IEP /504 issues. Contact the CIL serving your area to learn about supports available, often without cost. See list of CILs below…
Guidance & Support
Dare to Dialogue – SD Parent Connection. A resource guide for families with children receiving special education.
Forms and Guides – Office of Public Instruction
Gifted, Talented & Advanced Placement Services – Office of Public Instruction
Montana Parent’s Handbook to Special Education – PLUK Legacy Resource, 2005
Montana Special Education Guidance – Office of Public Instruction
Sample Forms – Disability Rights Montana
Student Rights Handbook – Disability Rights Montana
Resolving Disagreements
Student Rights Handbook – Disability Rights Montana (See pages 62-72.)
Sample Forms – Disability Rights Montana
OPI Dispute Resolution Options
IEP Facilitation – IEP facilitation is a free and optional dispute resolution process where an impartial facilitator assists the IEP team with communication and problem solving. An IEP Facilitator Request form may be obtained by contacting the OPI Legal Division at 406-444-3172.
Centers for Independent Living (CIL) in Montana may have education advocates that can support and assist families and children/youth with IEP /504 issues. Contact the CIL serving your area to learn about supports available, often without cost.
Living Independently for Today and Tomorrow (LIFTT)
800-669-6319 toll free, 406-245-1225 TTY
Offices: Billings, Glendive
Serves Treasure, Garfield, McCone, Rosebud, Big Horn, Prairie, Custer, Powder River, Richland, Dawson, Wibaux, Fallon, Golden Valley, Stillwater, Carbon, Musselshell, Yellowstone, and Carter counties.
Montana Independent Living Project (MILP)
800-735-6457 toll free, 406-442-5755 TTY
Offices: Helena, Bozeman, Butte
Serves Lewis and Clark, Powell, Granite, Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Beaverhead, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, Meagher, Broadwater and Jefferson counties
North Central Independent Living Services (NCILS)
800-823-6245 toll-free, 406-452-9834 TTY
Offices: Black Eagle, Glasgow
Serves Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Petroleum, Fergus, Judith Basin, Cascade, Chouteau, Teton, Pondera, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan and Roosevelt counties and Blackfeet, Fort Peck, Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap reservations.
Summit Independent Living Center (Summit)
800-398-9002 toll-free, 406-728-1630 TTY
Offices: Missoula, Hamilton, Kalispell, Ronan
Serves Missoula, Ravalli, Mineral, Lake, Sanders, Flathead and Lincoln counties.
Please contact us with recommended additions or deletions.
OPI Guidance pages 92 and 93:
Disciplinary Removals – Pages 132-136
CADRE – Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education
Course 1: Introduction to the Working Together Series
Course 2: IEP Meetings and Beyond
Course 3: Listening and Responding Skills
Course 4: Managing and Responding to Emotions
Course 5: Focusing on Interests to Reach Agreement
Center for Parent Information & Resources – Hub Central Event Calendar
Webinars on Special Education, IEPs, Early Intervention, Inclusion and more – www.parentcenterhub.org/ Hub Event Calendar appears on left bottom of page
ECAC – Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center, NC’s Parent Training and Information Center
The IEP Team Process: A Framework for Success – https://www.ecac-parentcenter. org/media-center/the-iep-team- process-videos/
Chapter 2: The IEP Team
Chapter 3: The IEP Team Process
Chapter 4: Getting Ready for the IEP Meeting
Chapter 5: The IEP Meeting
Please follow Montana PTI Facebook page to receive updates on available trainings.
ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Other Co-Occurring Conditions
Autism Spectrum Disorders
AFIRM – Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules
Brain Injury
BrainLine – https://www.brainline.org/
Many videos available on a wide variety of topics related to brain injury.
Parenting
University of Montana Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development
Positive Discipline Part 1 – https://apps.health.umt.edu/
This 25 minute video is appropriate for parents who want to learn an alternative to the reward and punishment system. The program is also appropriate for parents interested in different techniques that includes children with disorders of attachment, children on the autism spectrum, and children exposed to trauma.
Positive Discipline Part 2 – https://apps.health.umt.edu/
This program promotes a strong parent to child connection, as well as sets clear boundaries and limits.
University of Georgia, Extension
Ins and Outs of Adolescent Brain Development – https://learn.extension.org/
Why do teenagers act the way they do? The prefrontal cortex, which controls higher-order thinking abilities, is not fully developed until very late in adolescence. In this introduction to adolescent brain development, we will focus on the development (and under-development) of various parts of the brain, the ways this brain development affects behavior, and ways to support adolescents as they finish the crucial period of brain development
Florida State University
Successful Co-Parenting After a Divorce – https://coparenting.fsu.edu/
Free online, interactive, multimedia platform with videos demonstrating skills and strategies, extensive resource site, and certificate of training. Applicable to parents, family members and professionals. Modules: Introduction to Divorce and Co-Parenting; Strategies and Skills for Co-Parenting; Self-Care, Transitions, and Safety. https://coparenting.fsu.edu/
Mental Health
Toileting
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities – http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Please contact us with recommended additions or deletions.
Top 10 Facts that Parents, Educators and Students Should Know About Bullying and Harassment of Students with Disabilities – www.eparent.com/education/top-10-facts-that-parents-educators-and-students-should-know/
What Parents Can Do About Childhood Bullying – www.greatschools.org/special-education/health/825-what-parents-can-do-about-childhood-bullying.gs
Montana Deaf-Blind Project – http://mtdeafblind.ruralinstitute.umt.edu/
Montana School for the Deaf and Blind – http://msdb.mt.gov/parents.html
Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Outreach – http://msdb.mt.gov/outreach/index.html
Hearing Organizations
Montana Hands and Voices – www.mthandsandvoices.org, www.facebook.com/
Montana Association of the Deaf – www.montanadeaf.org
Big Sky Recreation Association of the Deaf (BSRAD) – www.montanadeaf.org/big-sky-recreation-of-the-deaf
Great Fall Club of the Deaf (GFCD) – www.montanadeaf.org/great-fall-club-of-the-deaf
Beartooth Club of the Deaf (BCD) – www.montanadeaf.org/beartooth-club-of-the-deaf
Missoula Club of the Deaf (MCD) – www.montanadeaf.org/beartooth-club-of-the-deaf
Gallatin Association of the Deaf (GAD) – www.montanadeaf.org/beartooth-club-of-the-deaf
Vision
Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Outreach – http://msdb.mt.gov/outreach/index.html
National Federation of the Blind Montana – https://www.nfbofmt.org/
Treasure State At-large Chapter (Conference Call)
Electric City Chapter, Great Falls
Yellowstone County Chapter, Billings
Guidance /Forms
Student Rights Handbook – www.disabilityrightsmt.org/wp-

(Section 504 addressed on pages 62-72)
Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools – www2.ed.gov/about/offices/

Dear Colleague Letter & Students with ADHD and Section 504: A Resource Guide – www2.ed.gov/about/offices/

Resolving Disagreements – Dispute Resolution Options
Elementary and secondary educational programs are required to establish and implement a system of procedural safeguards with respect to the identification, evaluation, or provision of services under Section 504 (34 CFR §104.36).
This system includes
- notice,
- an opportunity for the parents or guardian to examine relevant records,
- an impartial hearing with the opportunity for participation by the parent or guardian and representation by counsel, and
- a review procedure.
Individuals disagreeing with the identification, evaluation, and/or provision of services have several options available under Section 504, including:
- Filing a complaint or grievance through the school district’s discrimination complaint procedure as required under Section 504
- Requesting a hearing before an impartial hearing officer*
- An opportunity for a review of the decision made at the hearing*
- Filing a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights
- In Montana, filing a complaint with the Montana Human Rights Bureau may be an additional disagreement option if following the school district complaint procedure or hearing does not lead to agreement.
Montana Human Rights Bureau – http://erd.dli.mt.gov/human-rights
Regional Office: Seattle, Washington
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 206-607-1600