RFI Attendance.docx

Montana Office of Public Instruction Date September 3, 2026 To: All Interested Vendors Re: Request for Information Attendance Improvement Support Services for Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) Schools The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is seeking information from Vendors interested in providing evidence-based attendance improvement services to schools identified for Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA).

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is being sought strictly for the purpose of gaining knowledge of services and suppliers available to establish an Attendance Support resource list that Montana CSI schools may use when selecting vendors to strengthen attendance systems, reduce chronic absenteeism, improve student engagement, and increase student achievement.

Potential vendors are invited to submit the required information to support attendance improvement services to schools identified for Comprehensive School Improvement (CSI) under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA).

CSI under the ESSA in any of the activities in the six sequential focus areas of this process:

· Focus Area 1 – Comprehensive Attendance Needs Assessment

· Focus Area 2 – Attendance System Design and Implementation

· Focus Area 3 – Professional Learning and Coaching

· Focus Area 4 – Student, Family, and Community Engagement

· Focus Area 5 – Implementation Support and Continuous Improvement

· Focus Area 6 – Sustainability and Capacity Building No contract will result with the OPI from any response to this RFI but will result in a resource list the OPI will share with schools. If a school independently enters into an Agreement with a vendor on the list, all Agreements are subject to available district funding. The vendor response provided per this RFI will determine if they will be placed on the resource list. There is no guarantee that a school will use the resource list and/or an agreement with schools will result.

Attendance is a foundational component of school improvement. Students must be present and engaged in order to benefit from high-quality instruction and achieve academic success.

Through Montana's Attendance Framework, OPI is committed to supporting schools in developing sustainable attendance systems that promote belonging, remove barriers to learning, and improve outcomes for all students.

This RFI is intended to identify vendors with demonstrated expertise in attendance improvement, systems change, coaching, and continuous school improvement that can partner with Montana schools to build local capacity and achieve measurable improvements in attendance. Vendors are expected to utilize evidence based practices as described under ESSA as strong, moderate, or promising.

Vision The Montana Office of Public Instruction believes that improving attendance requires collaborative, relationship-centered, and culturally responsive systems that engage students, families, educators, tribal communities, and local partners.Attendance improvement extends beyond compliance with compulsory attendance laws. It is a critical strategy for improving student engagement, increasing academic achievement, strengthening school climate, and ensuring equitable opportunities for every learner.

Vendors should support schools in creating sustainable attendance systems that become embedded within the school's continuous improvement efforts and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS).

Program Goals Approved vendors should support schools in achieving one or more of the following outcomes:

· Reduce chronic absenteeism.

· Increase regular student attendance.

· Improve student engagement and school connectedness.

· Strengthen Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 attendance supports within MTSS.

· Build sustainable attendance systems.

· Increase school and district capacity to monitor and improve attendance.

· Strengthen family, tribal, and community partnerships.

· Use attendance data to inform continuous improvement.

· Support improved academic achievement through increased student attendance.

Services may be delivered:

· On-site

· Virtually

· Hybrid

The scope of work will be collaboratively determined by the school district, the OPI School Improvement Team, and the selected provider.

Focus Areas Vendors with demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas.

Focus Area 1 – Comprehensive Attendance Needs Assessment Providers should assist schools in understanding the factors contributing to absenteeism by conducting comprehensive attendance system reviews.

Services may include:

· Attendance audits

· Policy and procedure reviews

· Attendance data analysis

· Root cause analysis

· School climate reviews

· Student and family engagement assessments

· Barrier identification Potential Deliverables

· Attendance Needs Assessment Report

· Root Cause Analysis Summary

· Attendance System Recommendations

Focus Area 2 – Attendance System Design and Implementation Support schools in developing comprehensive attendance systems aligned with Montana's Champions Show Up Framework and MTSS.

Examples include:

· Attendance Leadership Team development

· Tiered attendance interventions

· Early Warning Systems

· Attendance protocols

· Family communication systems

· Attendance Success Planning

· Data review processes Potential Deliverables

· Attendance Improvement Plan

· Attendance Intervention Process

· Attendance Team Handbook

· Early Warning System protocols

Focus Area 3 – Professional Learning and Coaching Provide professional learning that builds local capacity to improve attendance. Training may include:

· Evidence-based attendance practices

· Attendance Works strategies

· MTSS implementation

· Student engagement

· Relationship-centered schools

· Trauma-informed practices

· Continuous improvement

· Data-informed decision making

· Leadership coaching

Vendors must be approved in the Montana Office of Public Instruction professional unit provider system.

Focus Area 4 – Student, Family, and Community Engagement Assist schools in developing meaningful partnerships that improve attendance and student engagement.

Examples include:

· Family engagement strategies

· Student voice initiatives

· Community partnerships

· Tribal partnerships

· Attendance awareness campaigns

· Mentoring programs

· School connectedness initiatives

Focus Area 5 – Implementation Support and Continuous Improvement Support schools throughout implementation by providing coaching and technical assistance. Examples include:

· Attendance Leadership Team coaching

· Progress monitoring

· Data reviews

· PDSA cycles

· Implementation fidelity

· School improvement planning

· Continuous improvement coaching

Focus Area 6 – Sustainability and Capacity Building Vendors should build the school's internal capacity to sustain attendance improvements after external services conclude.

Examples include:

· Leadership coaching

· Staff professional development

· Documentation of systems

· Attendance policy review

· Sustainability planning

· Knowledge transfer

Eligibility Requirements Vendors must have experience in the following areas; and should detail their expertise in the following areas.

Attendance Improvement Documented experience implementing evidence-based attendance improvement initiatives that resulted in measurable increases in attendance and reductions in chronic absenteeism.

Continuous School Improvement Experience supporting schools through continuous improvement planning, implementation, coaching, and organizational change.

Data-Informed Decision Making Experience using attendance, academic, behavior, and perception data to identify root causes and evaluate implementation.

Coaching and Capacity Building Experience providing embedded coaching that builds sustainable leadership and staff capacity.

Family and Community Engagement Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with families, tribal communities, community organizations, and local stakeholders.

Experience serving Montana's rural, frontier, and geographically isolated communities is highly desirable.

Cultural Responsiveness Experience providing culturally responsive services that respect and honor Montana's diverse communities, including Tribal Nations.

Organizational Information Vendors must include:

· Organizational history

· Attendance improvement philosophy and methodology

· Experience with rural and frontier schools

· Experience supporting CSI or other identified schools

· Reporting and communication processes

· Sample implementation timeline

· Estimated pricing structure

Response Requirements OPI invites all interested vendors to submit a written response to this RFI that includes:

Part I – Letter of Interest Include:

· Focus Area(s) of specialization

· Geographic service area

· Delivery model

· Years of experience

· Pricing approach

Part II – Eligibility Narrative (Maximum Twenty Pages) Describe how the vendor meets each eligibility requirement. Include:

· Case studies

· Measurable outcomes

· Sample deliverables

Part III – Required Documentation Provide:

· Student Data Privacy Policies

· Sample Attendance Improvement Project

· Evidence demonstrating measurable improvements in attendance and/or reductions in chronic absenteeism To be included:

Vendors information will be reviewed to determine whether vendors possess the expertise and organizational capacity necessary to support Montana CSI schools.

Vendors will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis in the following areas:

· Evidence-based attendance improvement expertise

· Continuous school improvement experience

· Coaching and implementation support

· Data analysis and continuous improvement

· Family and community engagement

· Cultural responsiveness

· Experience serving rural and frontier schools

· Organizational capacity

· Required documentation

Vendors receiving a Pass in all categories may be included on the Montana OPI Approved Attendance Support Resource List.

To align with Montana's Champions Show Up Framework and statewide attendance initiative, OPI encourages responses from organizations with demonstrated experience in:

· Reducing chronic absenteeism through evidence-based practices

· Developing attendance systems within an MTSS framework

· Attendance Works–aligned implementation strategies

· Student engagement and school connectedness

· Early Warning Systems

· Attendance Leadership Team development

· Continuous improvement and implementation coaching

· School climate improvement

· Indigenous and culturally responsive attendance practices

· Rural and frontier implementation models Leadership coaching for principals and district leadership teams

· Building sustainable attendance systems that continue beyond grant funding

The strongest responses will demonstrate measurable outcomes, build local capacity, and provide sustainable systems that help Montana schools improve attendance, increase student engagement, and support higher levels of student achievement.