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Senator Baucus Brings Montana Educator to Congress to Stand Up for Rural Schools – Office of Rural Education

Senator Holds Briefing to Educate Policymakers on Need for Office of Rural Education

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus brought Superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools Kirk Miller to Congress today to educate policymakers on the unique challenges and opportunities of rural school districts. Baucus invited Kirk to speak at a briefing for top education advisers regarding Baucus’ bill to direct the Department of Education to prioritize rural needs by creating the Office of Rural Education http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=490 , at no cost to taxpayers.

"Folks in Washington need to understand that what works for D.C. and New York might not work for Montana. That’s why it’s so important to bring Montana educators like Kirk here to tell our story, and it’s also why we need an Office of Rural Education fighting for our kids and teachers," Baucus said. "Montana has some of the best teachers and brightest students around, and they deserve the chance to compete on a fair and level playing field. The Office of Rural Education will help make sure Montana schools have the tools they need to shine."

Miller previously served as Superintendent of Havre Public Schools, Superintendent of Cascade Public Schools, Principal of Shepherd High School, mathematics and computer instructor at Havre High School and as an adjunct professor in the College of Education at Montana State University. He was appointed to the Montana Board of Public Education in 1995 and served as Chairman from 1999 to 2006.

"I’ve worked in school districts of all shapes and sizes across Montana, and I’ve seen firsthand the incredible educators and students our state has to offer. But I’ve also experienced the unique challenges we face as a rural state – challenges that are not always understood by decision makers in urban areas. Creating the Office of Rural Education is a visionary solution to ensure Montana has a seat at the table when the rules are being made, and I want to thank Senator Baucus for fighting to make sure Montana’s voice is heard," Miller said.

Baucus’ bill would direct the Department of Education to create the Office of Rural Education within its existing budget and would not pose any additional cost to taxpayers. Of the approximately 830 schools in Montana, more than half of them enroll less than 100 students. Baucus says the timing of his bill is critical for Montana schools as Congress looks to begin revamping the No Child Left Behind Act, which is the major source of federal funding for elementary and secondary education.

The Office of Rural Education http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=490 would focus on making sure rural teachers and students have the tools they need to overcome rural challenges including:

* Small enrollments

* Federal and state education funding inequities

* Geographic isolation

* Challenges in recruiting and retaining effective teachers and leaders

* Limited access to advanced courses

Baucus bill has been endorsed by http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=video&id=491 :

* Montana Rural Education Assoc. (MREA)

* Montana School Boards Association

* Montana Association of School Superintendents

* Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals

* Montana Association of Secondary School Principals

* American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)

* American Association of School Administrators (AASA)

* American Farm Bureau Association (AFBA)

* Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE)

* Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA)

* Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA)

* Children’s Defense Fund

* Council for Opportunity in Education (COE)

* National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)

* National Association of Development Organizations (NADO)

* National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)

* National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS)

* National Education Association (NEA)

* National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)

* National Farmers Union (NFU)

* National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition

* National Indian Education Association (NIEA)

* National Rural Education Association (NREA)

* National Rural Education Advocacy Coalition (NREAC)

* National School Board Association (NSBA)

* Organizations Concerned about Rural Education (OCRE)

* Public Education Network

* Rural School and Community Trust

* Save the Children

Production-quality b-roll of Baucus meeting with Kirk and other Montana educators:

HD Version…http://gp1d.senate.gov/sdmc/Baucus/071411_BAUCUS_1_FTP.M2T

SD Version… http://gp1d.senate.gov/sdmc/Baucus/071411_BAUCUS_1_FTP.MPG

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