Box Elder, Rocky Boy to get money for pre-school education

Two local schools are among the beneficiaries of a $10 million grant the federal government awarded Montana to expand access expand preschool programs for 4-year-olds from low-and moderate-income families.

The U.S. Department of Education announced the grant Wednesday.

“This grant is great news for thousands of Montana’s earliest learners, and an important start toward ensuring every Montana four-year-old has the opportunity to take part in high-quality early childhood education,” Gov. Steve Bullock said of the grant. “Every Montana family, regardless of where they live, should have the opportunity to send their child to a high-quality early childhood educational program that ensures they are kindergarten ready.”

Federal officials say the grants are intended to establish preschools in diverse populations, which include urban neighborhoods and tribal areas.

Darrin Hannum, superintendent of the Box Elder School District, said that his area is pleased to be receiving the grant.

“Anything that we can do to help kids is a positive. If it’s getting kids in the classroom and giving them high-quality staff, that’s terrific,” he said.

He said he does not yet know how much the district will get or exactly how it will be used.

Voyd St. Pierre, superintendent of the Rocky Boy School District did not return calls seeking comment.

Montana is one of five states awarded a total of about $56 million to develop preschool programs. All had small state-funded preschools or none at all.

Thirteen other states will get a total of about $170 million to expand existing preschool programs.

36 states applied for the grants.

The grants last for one year but can be renewed for up to four years.

`According to a press release from Gov. Steve Bullock, other schools to receive the money are:

• Great Falls

• Hardin

• Lewistown

• Helena

• Bozeman

• Wolf Point

• Browning

• Anaconda

• Crow Agency

• Libby

• Kalispell

• Butte

• Pablo/Ronan