U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) hosted a press conference in Great Falls on Thursday to talk about funding for public education.
Great Falls Public School officials, teachers and parents gathered to learn more about what the funding bill is about and where the money will be used in schools.
One parent spoke about her son, who she says would not be where he is without funding for public education in Skyline Preschool.
Teresa Schreiner says she is an advocate for the funding bill because her autistic son is able to attend school and have access to occupational and speech therapy, as well as be socialized in the classroom.
"When he was first diagnosed with autism he had some delays. Within a year he has made a seventy percent gain in terms of academic delays, social delays, and specifically communication delays. So his delays now are virtually nonexistent. He can speak, he can communicate non-verbally and verbally and interact with his peers. He can be at the academic level, he’s completely integrated in terms of working with Skyline."
The money secured will help public schools across the state. Some examples of the funds being disbursed include:
- 12.28 billion dollars being used to accommodate students with disabilities.
- 9.8 billion dollars going towards educational, nutritional and social services to children ages 0 – 5.
- 1.2 billion dollars being used to provide learning centers for before-school, after-school, and summer programs.
- 250 million dollars to enhance state preschool programs.
- And 600 million dollars will allow rural and under-served areas to benefit from internet access.
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