Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen has issued a directive to all Montana school districts, reminding them of their legal obligations to comply with state and federal laws amid rising concerns over ideological activism in public education.
In a formal letter sent this week, Hedalen reinforced that adherence to these laws is a condition for maintaining state accreditation and receiving public school funding.
“Parents entrust our schools to focus on reading, writing, and core subjects, not political and ideological indoctrination,” Hedalen said. “We will not allow taxpayer-funded classrooms to become platforms for activist agendas while parents sit on the sidelines. I expect every school board, administrator, and teacher to follow the law, protect students, and preserve the integrity of our education system. Montana parents have had enough of politics in our classrooms — and so have I. We are drawing a firm line: teach academics, not activism.”
Hedalen’s letter cited two recently enacted laws — House Bill 819 and House Bill 471 — as key areas where compliance is required. HB 819 restricts the display of flags and banners on government property, including public schools, allowing only officially recognized government flags. HB 471 strengthens parental rights by requiring explicit, written consent before a student can participate in any form of identity-based instruction.
The superintendent also reiterated her support for House Bill 557, introduced during the 2025 legislative session by Rep. Jodee Etchart. The measure, which did not pass, would have eliminated the state-mandated use of Pupil-Instruction-Related (PIR) days for teacher union meetings. Hedalen said she plans to work with lawmakers in the next session to advance similar legislation.
“Government-encouraged school closures for union activities are an outdated and unproductive use of taxpayer time and resources,” Hedalen said. “HB 557 got it right — PIR days should be used to strengthen instruction, not to promote union politics. We fully intend to pursue this bill again in the next legislative session and to support true educator professional development for the benefit of students.”
The Office of Public Instruction continues to offer professional development programs for educators, including the annual OPI Summer Institute and locally driven training events. Hedalen recently participated in a Great Falls professional development day hosted in partnership with Malmstrom Air Force Base. Additionally, OPI is in the process of upgrading its Teacher Learning Hub to a new platform designed to expand access to state-approved online training for Montana educators.