The Alaskan state education department has chosen five tribes to participate in an experiment that will permit tribes to establish the first independent school in Alaska.
The state-wide educational compacting for tribal schools was created by Senate Bill 34 which was approved by in the Legislature and was approved by Governor. Dunleavy in the year 2000. Five tribes selected each receive grant money to establish their school in the next few years, through a compact agreement that the government’s Department of Education and Early Development.
The tribes have the option of establishing their own program and timeline. They’ll get guidance from the Alaska Federation of Natives as the program progresses.
The program is said to help improve the education of Alaska Native students. It’s part a larger effort to incorporate the most relevant cultural lessons into the classroom in order to aid Indigenous students.
Sealaska Heritage Institute holds a annual conference which gathers educators to train educators on how to incorporate Alaska Native culture into their teaching. It is also the University of Alaska Fairbanks also provides guidelines for teaching that are culturally sensitive that are set by a variety of Alaska Native organizations and tribes.
According to the state education department, the schools would be open to all students from kindergarten through high school.
“These State Tribal Education Compact Schools (STECs) are public schools that are open to all students and provide a unique, multi-cultural blend of Western and millennia old tribal educational models.” is the information provided by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.”
The tribes chosen to participate in the pilot program are Ketchikan Indian Community, the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, King Island Native Community, Knik Tribe and Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope.
Raegan Miller is Raegan Miller is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your contribution in support of our RFA grant will help her continue writing stories similar to this one. You can make an tax-deductible donation at KRBD.org/donate.
