Native Education

Circles of Reflection: A Toolkit for SEAs

This toolkit is a self-guided, interactive opportunity for SEAs to lead with equity and ensure Native students receive important academic and well-being supports. The online toolkit assists states, districts, and Tribes through three discussion-based Circles that examine what the SEA is currently doing for Native students, what Tribes and districts would like the SEA to be doing, and what initiatives take priority to turn into actionable plans.

Resources to Help States Advance Education for Native Students: Circles of Reflection

These resources are designed to facilitate Circles of Reflection—a process that engages SEAs, Tribes, and LEAs in rich, reflective discussions and strategic planning to provide high-quality, motivating educational experiences that improve Native students’ academic attainment.

Advocating for Native Students: A Learning and Programming Toolkit

This toolkit provides considerations and guidance for SEAs, LEAs, and TEDs to use when planning, implementing, and evaluating programming for Native students.

Tribal Consultation Toolkit

This toolkit guides effective, inclusive, and culturally responsive consultation that respects Tribal self-determination and advances collaborative discussion and action between state and local education agencies, schools, and Tribes.

Improving the Accuracy of Native Student Identification

American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students are eligible to receive unique educational supports from a variety of programs. However, many Native students do not receive the services they are entitled to, simply because they are not identified as Native when they enroll in school. These resources can help AIAN families ensure their children are accurately identified in school so they can receive services, benefits, and resources available to them.

Every Student Succeeds Act Tribal Consultation Pre-Planning Tool for Tribes

This tool was designed in 2019 by the Northwest Comprehensive Center to assist tribes in planning for timely and meaningful consultation with state and local education agencies under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

National Indian Education Association (NIEA)

Formed in 1970, the NIEA adheres to the organization’s founding principles: 1) to bring Native educators together to explore ways to improve schools and the schooling of Native children; 2) to promote the maintenance and continued development of Native languages and cultures; and 3) to develop and implement strategies for influencing local, state, and federal policy and policymakers.

U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education

The mission of the Office of Indian Education is to support the efforts of local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, postsecondary institutions, and other entities to meet the unique cultural, language, and educational needs of such students; and ensure that all students meet the challenging State academic standards.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ mission is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives.

Practicing Native Culture, Building Identity, Fostering Achievement

The interTRIBAL immersion program at Paris Gibson Center, an alternative high school in Great Falls, Montana, provides a different path to graduation for American Indian students at risk of dropping out. The program is less than five years old, but it has already had a positive impact on participating students' sense of belonging and identity, as well as their academic achievement.

Indian Education in Idaho

Indian education information from the Department of Education in Idaho

Indian Education in Montana

Indian education information from the Department of Education in Montana

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