Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

September 8, 2005

Public Schools Have Enrolled Nearly 500 "Hurricane Katrina Kids"

More than 100 Missouri school districts have already enrolled nearly 500 children who have been displaced from the Gulf Coast region by Hurricane Katrina.

According to preliminary statistics collected this week by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 110 school districts are already serving 467 children. Commissioner of Education D. Kent King reported to the State Board of Education this morning on the public schools’ response to Hurricane Katrina.

All states have been asked by federal education officials to survey local schools in an effort to determine how many students have been displaced by the hurricane.

"I am confident the figures that have been reported to us this week are low and will continue to change. But I am proud of the way local schools and communities are responding to the needs of these families and helping kids by providing a stable and welcoming environment," King said.

At this point, the St. Louis Public Schools have reported serving the largest number of displaced children – about 150 – and the Kansas City School District has reported about 50, King said.

Missouri education officials are beginning to communicate and coordinate efforts with state education agencies in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. For example, Louisiana has an extensive state-level student records system. Missouri school districts may be able to tap this system in the coming weeks to obtain academic information about students who have relocated here.

"We are advising Missouri school officials that the hurricane relief and resettlement process will be ongoing for most, if not all, of this school year. We are going to do everything we can to facilitate this process and help school districts concentrate on helping these kids and their families," King said.