Public School Kids
A statewide initiative that champions the freedom and opportunity public schools create for Montana kids.
With over 90% of Montana kids attending public school, Public School Kids
reminds us of what we all share – the American promise of freedom: the freedom to
chart our own course, no matter where we come from or what we have.
But with dwindling funding and teachers leaving, it’s our kids, especially low-
income kids, who are paying the price.
Public School Kids is about remembering the values that unite us – fairness,
opportunity, and community – and asking the question:
How do we give every Montana kid the best shot at success?
The YEARBOOK
The Yearbook is a photo narrative celebrating the people shaped by Montana’s public schools. From teachers and ranchers to artists, parents, and small business owners, these stories honor creativity, connection, and the shared experience of growing up in public school. Set against the backdrop of Montana’s sweeping plains, mountain towns, and tight-knit communities, The Yearbook reflects the people and places that continue to shape what it means to be a Montanan.
The Yearbook can be found at @public.school.kids on Instagram and below.
The Podcast
The Public School Kids podcast focuses on what’s happening inside Montana’s public schools and why it matters. Each week, we talk with students, teachers, graduates, and experts about the challenges and opportunities shaping public education today and what it will take to give all Montana kids home field advantage.
The following themes will be explored:
Kids & Technology
How phones, social media, and screen time shape learning, relationships, and mental health.
Life & Wellbeing
Recess, physical activity, nutrition, and practical skills that prepare kids for healthy, independent lives.
Priorities in Education
Teacher pay and retention, shifting student choices around college, and the commercialization of youth sports and extracurriculars.
Shared Values & Innovation
How schools foster empathy, civic responsibility, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking – skills that shape Montana’s future.
Rooted in real stories and grounded in community, the series sparks conversations that deepen connection, explore identity, and expand our sense of “we” in Montana.
Support Us!
Every purchase of Public School Kid merchandise
supports the series and helps fund travel, production, and
outreach efforts across Montana.
Get Involved
Know someone who went to public school in Montana we should talk to?
Have an idea for a podcast episode or topic?
Want to help tell the story of Montana’s public school kids?
Tag us @public.school.kids, #publicschoolkid, send us a message, or reach out via contact form. We’d love to hear from you.