TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas education officials say the number of homeless students in the state’s schools continues to increase.

The Kansas State Department of Education reports nearly 10,400 homeless children attended public schools last year, a thousand more than a year earlier.

Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, public schools reported increases of 45 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

Tate Toedman, the education department’s child homelessness program coordinator, said families are taking longer to recover from homelessness than in the past.

The federal government requires schools to track homeless students in order to receive support and service programs that help the children stay in school.

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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com