Welcome to OPI and the Homeless Education program.
We are located in the 1300 11th Ave building in
the EOE Division. The purpose of this program is to
ensure that “each child
Current Information - Montana |
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of a homeless individual
and each homeless youth has equal access to the same
free, appropriate public education, including a public
preschool education, as provided to other children and
youths.”
It may not be apparent to everyone that Montana has
a homeless problem. Montana has individuals and families
who for whatever reason live in very inadequate situations.
Some of those individuals are of school age and most
of the families have school age children. Whatever the
reason for their homelessness, the kids from preschool
to high school age are at high-risk of falling way behind
in school and/or not completing school. The transient
nature of the homeless family keeps kids out of the
education system.
As you continue on in this site, the definition of a
homeless individual as defined by Congress in the law
helps understand their special needs. Thank you for
your interest.
FIRST STEPS – NEXT STEPS
School districts should refer to the NCLB Law (see related links to the right) to understand the requirements of the LEA and District Liaisons. Appoint a current District Liaison with the form provided and then review all school policies to remove any barriers to the enrollment of a homeless child or youth.
STAFF:
Introduction to Cooper’s Tale
Fifteen years ago I met my first homeless family.
But of all that I’ve learned during that
time, what remains most shocking to me –
and most overlooked by others – is the fact
that so many of the homeless in America are children.
Although you don’t often see homeless families
on the streets, because they live in emergency
shelters or doubled and tripled up with other
families, they are there: they are in fact the
hidden homeless and most are young children.
One of the most tragic parts of homeless children’s
lives is their loss of education. Many repeat
grades in school, some never learn to read, and
others drop out, all because they had no quiet
place to study, no stable place to stay, and no
place to call home.
Today, homelessness is no longer simply about
housing. Today, it is about education, about families,
and more than ever, about children. Cooper’s
Tale is more than just a story of a mouse and
how he loses his home; it reflects the stories
of more than one million homeless children across
America. Just like Cooper, their stories need
a happy ending too, and working together we can
make it happen.
Leonard N. Stern |
The Montana program is required to report a count of Homeless Children and Youth each year to the US Department of Education and Congress. Our Montana program did actual counts in 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994. Since that time, we have done a statistical sample of those surveyed in the first six years. This sample was done in 1996 through 2007 for the whole state. The numbers and definitions reported in 2007 are included below.
Total numbers of Homeless Children and Youth by primary nighttime residence in Montana:
Shelters, transitional housing, awaiting foster care 988
Doubled-up (with another family) 720
Unsheltered (cars, parks, campgrounds, other) 254
Hotels/Motels 236
Total 2198 |
Success in Montana
Many successes are small and some indefinable.
The Missoula School
District, WORD (Women’s Opportunity and
Resource Development, (www.wordinc.org/), SB
McKinney,
and the Missoula Title I Program have collaborated
to find success in many areas related to homeless
kids and their families. The combination of all
these district programs has helped further the
education
of and the national recognition of one homeless
student who succeeded through all possible odds.
On his own, away from family, determined, and in
a school and program that cared, he was recognized
in 2000 for his accomplishment by the NAEHCY (National Association for the Education of Homeless
Children and Youth, (www.naehcy.org/).
Missoula also has the distinction of a very recognized
program called the Summer Arts and Leadership Camp.
It was designed for homeless youth and at-risk youth
to develop self-confidence, learn to overcome challenges,
work in a group, understand diversity, learn leadership
skills, and develop new talents. Great successes
have come from this program. The sad part is that
this program only has funds for 25-30 kids, and
the district refers 60-70 kids each year. |
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The Office of Public Instruction does not control or guarantee
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information. 
