NAMPA, Idaho (AP) -- Officials with the Nampa School District say the number of homeless students has jumped from about 150 last year to nearly 500 this school year.

The district has received a $45,000 federal grant to help pay for a part-time social worker to coordinate services for homeless students.

Vallivue Schools homeless liaison Sharon Rose Culley says she knows of four families living out of their cars this year.

State officials say the number of homeless students increased 30 percent from two years ago to 2,750 in the 2008-2009 school year, the last year the state has complete numbers.

Culley says the number of homeless students at Vallivue Schools could be higher if all those who met the classification as homeless were known and counted.

Information from: Idaho Press-Tribune, http://www.idahopress.com

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