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Expanding the Child Tax Credit could lift as many as 16 million kids in the U.S out of poverty, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. But the measure awaiting action in the U.S. Senate does not have broad public support. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Child Tax Credit would benefit 46,000 MT kids

Advocates of the Child Tax Credit are calling on Washington lawmakers to expand it as they return to the Capitol this week. It's estimated an …

The union that represents Montana's public school teachers has filed suit to stop a pair of school choice bills in the state. One would create Educational Savings Accounts, the other a charter school system, both of which would be funded with state education money. (Adobe Stock)

MT teachers union files pair of 'school choice' lawsuits

Montana's largest teachers union has filed two lawsuits against "school choice" measures in the state. Montana lawmakers passed House Bill 393 last …

Montana House Bill 393, which would create Educational Savings Accounts for special education students, is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2024. Critics vow to challenge it in court. (Adobe Stock)

MT teachers oppose special-ed voucher program

The union that represents Montana teachers opposes a move to legalize private school vouchers in the state. Educational Savings Accounts, or ESAs…

Public schools and colleges are working together to build a pipeline of homegrown talent to help address the teacher shortage in Montana's K-12 classrooms. (Working Nation)

Creating a local pipeline for Montana teaching jobs

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Collabora…

There were 7,547 charter schools throughout the United States in the 2019-2020 school year, compared with 1,993 in the 2000-2001 school year, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Parents, Teachers Sue Over Montana School Privatization

A coalition of parents and public-school teachers has sued to prevent the privatization of schools in Montana. Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed House …

Prior to passage of House Bill 648, Montana families paid as much as 14% of their monthly income in co-pays, leaving some less than $2,000 a month to cover housing, food and other expenses. The new law caps co-pays at 9% of monthly family income. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

MT Advocates Herald Increased Child Care Funding

Gov. Greg Gianforte has signed a bill into law aimed at reducing child-care costs in Montana. This month, the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked …

The rate of children under age 19 without health insurance dropped to 5% in 2021, an estimated 4,165,000 million kids nationwide, down from 6% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy Kids Study Shows Dramatic Lack of Montana Child Care

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book ranks Montana 18th nationally in overall child well-being. The just-released numbers showed …

Blackfeet Community College is in Browning, Mont. in Glacier County near the Canadian border. (David Adamec/Wikimedia Commons)

Grant Boosts Student Parents at MT Tribal College

A grant is helping student parents at a college in northwestern Montana. The Aspen Institute has announced Blackfeet Community College and seven …

Children are feeling the effects of an increase in online harassment. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Tools for Parents as Harassment Permeates Online Spaces

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

A survey from this summer found 12% of Montana families

As MT Families Struggle, Child Tax Credit Payments Touted as Solution

A program that sent money to families with children helped pull millions out of poverty early in the pandemic, including about 211,000 kids in …

About 18,000 Montana kids will experience the loss of a family member by the time they're 18. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

MT Hosts Conference on Supporting Grieving Children

A touring conference from the National Alliance for Children's Grief comes to Montana this week. The event will be in Whitefish on Tuesday. The …

Report: MT 20th in Child Well-Being; Mental Health Remains an Issue

Montana ranks in the upper half of states for child wellbeing, according to an annual report. But mental health among young people remains a concern…

Despite a limited number across the state, some Montana school districts didn't prioritize counselors with COVID-19 relief funds. (Mr Doomits/Adobe Stock)

Teen Depression Underscores Important Role of School Counselors

More than two years into the pandemic, depression among teenagers is up, and one way to support kids' mental health could be through school …

There were about 4.6 million job openings nationwide at the end of 2021. (wachiwit/Adobe Stock)

Worker Shortage Hits MT Nonprofit World Hard

The country has a worker shortage - and it's leading to hard times for nonprofits. Liz Moore is the executive director of the Montana Nonprofit …

Individualized Education Programs are written plans that outline services for children with disabilities. (insta_photos/Adobe Stock)

Montana Center 'Empowers' Parents of Children with Disabilities

Navigating education can be difficult for parents of children with disabilities. An organization in Montana is dedicated to assisting families in …

Young people who are transitioning out of foster care could be spending the holidays without a support system. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Aging Out of Foster Care System Presents Challenges for MT Youth

MISSOULA, Mont. - Young people who age out of the foster care program face unique challenges. Those challenges can feel especially acute and …

The child tax credit provides families $300 a month for children younger than age six and $250 for children ages 6 to 17. (vetre/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better to Provide Boost to MT Families, Supporters Say

HELENA, Mont. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Montana and across the country…

Preparing for a doctor's visit is an important part of ensuring children feel comfortable there when they arrive. (Jaren Wicklund/Adobe Stock)

Guide Helps Kids of All Abilities Make Choices in Doctor's Office

MISSOULA, Mont. -- A doctor's office can be an intimidating place for children. A new guide from Montana can help kids of any ability advocate for …

Families with children under age 6 could get up to $3,600 through the federal Child Tax Credit this year. (tomertu/Adobe Stock)

Child Tax Credit Lifts MT Families Out of Poverty, Backers Say

MISSOULA, Mont. - More than 200,000 Montana families are seeing extra money in their bank accounts because of the extended federal Child Tax Credit…

Identifying such health factors as autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy at a young age can help kids when they start school. (StaCheck Photography/Adobe Stock)

MT Effort Helps Identify Developmental Delays Before Kids Start School

HELENA, Mont. - A Montana campaign is renewing its efforts to help identify developmental delays in young children. The Centers for Disease Control …

About 52,000 children were living in households with high housing cost burdens in 2019. (melissadoar/Adobe Stock)

Discouraging Trends for MT Children Leading into Pandemic, Data Shows

HELENA, Mont. -- Troubling trends in Montana may have made the pandemic harder for children, a new report shows. The latest Annie E. Casey's KIDS …

Jen Banna has five children, including one daughter with a neurodevelopmental disability. (Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities)

Families of People with Disabilities Get Support in MT

HELENA, Mont. -- Families with people who have disabilities can sometimes feel isolated because of their experiences. Siblings of people with …

One in 10 Montana families doesn't have health insurance. (Maygutyak/Adobe Stock)

MT Families Face 'Impossible Decisions' During Pandemic

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana families are struggling during the pandemic, putting the well-being of children in the state at risk. A new report from the …

Mirroring a national trend, Montana has seen a significant increase in recent years in the number of kids not covered by health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Major Increase in Montana's Child Uninsurance Rate

BILLINGS, Mont. -- The number of Montana children without health coverage has gone up by 25%, according to a new report which said the increase came …

About 67,000 Montana kids were eligible for free and reduced-price lunches during the 2019-2020 school year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

MT Families Receive Funds for Missed School Meals

HELENA, Mont. -- Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals missed out on those meals when school closed down in March. But a program …

Some 30% of Montana high school-age kids say they currently use e-cigarettes, according to a 2019 survey. (Grispb/Adobe Stock)

As Youth Use Rises, MT Proposes Flavored E-Cigarette Ban

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana has proposed banning the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes as a way to curb the growing number of young people using …

Some Montana legislators say the state will need to make cuts across the board because of a dip in revenue. (Erik Madsen/Flickr)

MT Educators Counting on Fed, State Assistance to Reopen

HELENA, Mont. -- Montana is drawing up plans to reopen public schools in the fall. Educators say they'll need assistance from the state and federal …

The 2020 census can be filled out online. (Aldeca Productions/Adobe Stock)

The Importance of Counting Montana's Young Children in the Census

HELENA, Mont. -- The 2020 census is here, and officials are spreading the word that households shouldn't forget one chronically undercounted …

The Indian Child Welfare Act was enacted in 1978. (USDA NRCS Montana/Flickr)

Law Protecting Native Children Against Family Separation is Challenged

HELENA, Mont. - A federal court is considering challenges to a four-decades-old law put in place to protect Native American children against state-…

About 15,000 children in Montana didn't have health coverage in 2018, according to a new report. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Report: Number MT Kids without Health Coverage Spikes

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana saw a sharp rise in the number of children without health care insurance between 2016 and 2018, according to a new …

Montana schools are required to have bullying prevention plans. (soupstock/Adobe Stock)

Bullying Prevention Month: 'No One Should Be a Bystander'

HELENA, Mont. – October is National Bullying Prevention Month, bringing awareness to this issue's growing impact on students. According to …

Research finds kids learn better when they have a good night's sleep � and powering down cell phones and other screens could be key. (Paolese/Adobe Stock)

With Kids Back in School, Doctors Affirm No Screens Before Bedtime

HELENA, Mont. – With school back in session, doctors are saying, “Well, your mom is right – time to turn the phone off and get to …

As of Friday, the CDC is looking into 450 cases of a severe respiratory illness that could be linked to vaping. (lezinav/Adobe Stock)

Health Officials: 'Stop Vaping' After Possibly Related Deaths

HELENA, Mont. – As the number of deaths possibly linked to e-cigarettes climbs, health officials are urging people not to use them. State …

From 2015-17, 58% of 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds in Montana were not in school. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

MT Kids Start School Year With Fewer Preschool Options

HELENA, Mont. – School is back in session, but not for many of Montana's preschool-age children this year. After the state Legislature funded …

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends lead levels in drinking water not exceed one part per billion in schools. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

MT Takes Comments on Requiring Schools to Test for Lead

HELENA, Mont. – A proposed rule change in Montana would require schools to test for contaminants like lead in their water systems every quarter…

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report finds more children in Montana graduated high school on time in 2017 compared to 2010. (U.S. Forest Service/Flickr)

Analysis: MT Makes Small Gains in Child Well-Being

HELENA, Mont. – Montana saw modest progress in a number of markers for child well-being, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey …

Research shows foster children who are placed with families are more likely to finish school. (U.S. Forest Service/Flickr)

Report: More MT Foster Children Being Placed with Families

HELENA, Mont. — More foster youths are being placed in families across the country, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation …

Montana youths who have been in the foster care system can struggle to find a place to live, with only 48 percent reporting stable housing by age 21. (Andres Rodriguez/Flickr)

Report: Instability Hurts Trajectories of MT Foster Children

HELENA, Mont. – New research highlights the instability young people in foster care face in Montana, and the barriers this can create as they …

Supporting young parents also helps their children succeed later in life. (melissadoar/Twenty20)

Report: Supporting Young Mont. Parents Boosts Two Generations

HELENA, Mont. — Parenting can be a challenge for even the most financially secure Montanans, but the hardships can be even greater for young …

The number of single-parent Montana families has dropped since 2010, meaning more kids have two breadwinners in the family. (USFWS/Flickr)

Report: Montana Kids Doing Better, Experts Look to 2020 Census

HELENA, Mont. – Montana kids are faring better in an annual report on child well-being released today. The 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the …

There are more than 90 summer meal sites throughout Montana. (Missoula Food Bank)

MT Summer Meal Programs Fight Childhood Hunger

HELENA, Mont. — Summer can be a difficult time for hungry children. In Montana, about one-in-six children lives in a food insecure household …

The number of children in foster care in Montana jumped from about 1,700 in 2007 to nearly 3,400 in 2016. (RitaE/Pixabay)

Foster Parent Appreciation Day: Children in Foster Care in MT Rising

HELENA, Mont. – As the opioid crisis has grown in recent years, so has the number of children no longer able to safely live with their parents…

About 23,000 Montana children will lose their health insurance if funding for CHIP isn't reauthorized. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

MT Families Will Feel Financial Strain without CHIP

HELENA, Mont. – Health care for thousands of children in Montana hangs in the balance despite a temporary funding patch for the Children's …

High levels of lead have been found in some fidget spinners. Retailer Target has since removed them from its shelves. (Dark Dwarf/Flickr)

Report: Play It Safe When Shopping for Toys

HELENA, Mont. -- This Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday shopping season, you might take some time to read labels and carefully consider the …

Universal policies like tax credits and health care can help children of all races, advocates for child well-being say. (U.S. Forest Service/Flickr)

Report: Native American Children in MT Far Behind Other Children

HELENA, Mont. – A new report reveals the persistent disparities for children of color and in immigrant families, in Montana and across the …

The Montana Historical Society is laying off nine people due to budget cuts. (Courtesy of Sanna Porte)

Cuts to State Budget Affect Most Vulnerable Montanans

HELENA, Mont. – The full scope of pain from impending budget cuts is coming into view for public employees and the Montanans they serve…

Montana's Steve Bullock was among a group of bipartisan governors calling for a more open process in negotiations over the American Health Care Act. (Matt Ludin/YPF)

Analysis: GOP Health Bill Means Fewer Covered, Tax Breaks for Rich

HELENA, Mont. - Montana's millionaires could see an average tax cut of close to $40,000 a year if the American Health Care Act becomes law, according …

The Montana Food Bank Network works with 140 partners across the state to provide meals to kids over the summer. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Summer Meals Helping Combat Academic Slide for MT Children

MISSOULA, Mont. – During the summer months, children need food assistance more than ever. One in five children in Montana lives in a food …

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