The Alaskan Board of Education has approved the preliminary report, which is a first step towards recognizing the state’s tribes’ rights to run and supervise K-12 schools.
The board ratified the Department of Education and Early Development report titled as the State Tribal Education Compact at its last meeting week. The report will be the foundation for legislation.
The Education commissioner Deena Bishop said that the report will be sent directly to Governor’s Office in order to be made into legislation. The state’s plan calls for funding for the first tribe-owned and run state school in operation.
The Department of Education and Early Development created the framework for public schools run by tribal governments following the state’s 32nd Legislature approved the bill that directed it to develop the framework. DEED Director of tribal affairs Joel Isaak led the process.
“State-Tribal education compacting has been essential for fostering positive change by focusing on changes to the system that allow Tribes in becoming educators and again.” The report states.
The proposed plan aligns to one department’s five priorities The proposal is to inspire Tribal and Community Education Ownership Excellence.
An Introduction to Public Education Alaska along with Tribal Compacting taken from Alaska DED on Vimeo.
Member of the board Bob Griffin praised the department’s efforts and suggested that the board approve the bill, which is still to be written which will be based on the report.
The member Lorri Van Diest inquired whether there were enough teachers for the extra schools envisioned by the plan due to the state’s issues in hiring and retaining teachers. Isaak claimed the plan is likely to draw the attention of a new set of educators.
“The pressures the system faces due to being a small number of teachers, it isn’t going to magically make it go disappear,” he said. “But I believe that it will help create an additional number of educators who don’t decide, for any reason, to go through the current process, but are enthusiastic about the idea and are looking to align their lives and professional objectives, to be a part of this movement.”
Five tribes are scheduled to be included in the five-year pilot program to create the first public schools with tribal compacts: Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, Ketchikan Indian Community, King Island Native Community and the Knik Tribe.
These tribes will be given one to three years for the development of schools if their plans are approved and financed through the Legislature. Schools will be open to all students Tribes will be able to decide whether or not to sign into the compact.
The board will be voting to accept a draft of the plan during its meeting on Jan. 17th meeting.
The story was originally published in Alaska Beacon and is republished here with permission.
