Baucus, Tester announce $500,000 grant for distance learning

Money will link eleven schools to Billings West High School

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – A $500,000 grant announced today by
Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester will help eleven Montana schools offer
advanced placement courses to their students.

An initiative spearheaded by Browning Public Schools
will allow eleven schools on Montana Indian reservations to link up with
Billings
West High
School. The grant money will be used to purchase the
equipment necessary to connect to classrooms in Billings.

The eleven schools that will participate are:
Babb School in Babb, Browning High
School, Browning
Middle School, Napi Elementary
School in Browning, Vina Chattin
Elementary School in Browning,
K.W. Bergan Elementary
School in Browning, Poplar Middle
School, Poplar
Elementary School, Poplar High
School, Wyola
Middle School, and Wyola High School.

The new video teleconferencing equipment will allow the
smaller schools to get advanced placement, foreign language, math and science
courses from Billings West
High School.

“This is great use of 21^st Century
technology, that will help Montanans succeed well into the future,” Baucus said.
“This program will allow students at small schools to take a variety of courses
right in their own community without having to travel long
distances.”

“All of Montana’s young people will benefit from
high-tech distance learning,” Tester said. “This is an innovative way to ensure
that all of Montana’s students have access to advanced
placement courses.”

The grant is through the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Rural Development program.