Guideline: Many tribes have education departments to provide educational support for tribal members. Similarly, many school districts have Indian education committees comprised of parents and school personnel to improve the education of American Indian students. National organizations also provide support for educators of American Indian students through annual meetings and publications related to Indian education. These organizations can be helpful to parents, local educators, and state level education policy makers concerned with Indian education.
As defined by the Coalition for Community Schools a community school is both a set of partnerships and a place where services, supports and opportunities lead to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. One such initiative widely recognized for its effectiveness is Bridges to Success jointly sponsored by the Indianapolis Public Schools and the United Way of Central Indiana. The document describes the Bridges to Success initiative, offers several lessons learned and outcomes achieved.
Within the College of Continuing Education at the University of Oklahoma, "the American Indian Insititue (AII) provides expert technical assistance to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Canadian First Nation tribes and bands."
As noted at its website, "The American Indian Science and Engineering Society's (AISES) mission is to increase substantially the representation of American Indian and Alaskan Natives in engineering, science and other related technology disciplines. Through a variety of educational programs, AISES offers financial, academic and cultural support to American Indians and Alaska Natives from middle school through graduate school. AISES provides professional development activities to enable teachers to work effectively with Native students. AISES also develops culturally appropriate curricula and publications. AISES builds partnerships with tribes, schools, other non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and government agencies to realize its goals."
"Established in 1959, the Center for Indian Education is an interdisciplinary research and service organization housed in the College of Education at Arizona State University. The Center promotes studies in American Indian/Alaska Native policy and administration that contribute to the quality of scholarship and effective practices in education, professional training and tribal capacity building."
"The Indigenous Special Interest Group (SIG) of the National Association for Bilingual Education supports the teaching of tribal languages and the improvement of the education of American Indian students."
"The Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Special Interest Group (SIG) of the American Educational Research Association aims to promote critical discussion on and understanding of traditional and contemporary education among indigenous peoples."
"The Johnson O'Malley (JOM) program provides supplementary financial assistance to meet the unique and specialized educational needs of Indian children." This document provides an overview of the program.
"The NCAI was founded in 1944 in response to termination and assimilation policies that the United States forced upon the tribal governments in contradiction of their treaty rights and status as sovereigns. NCAI stressed the need for unity and cooperation among tribal governments for the protection of their treaty and sovereign rights. Since 1944, the National Congress of American Indians has been working to inform the public and Congress on the governmental rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives."
As noted at its website, "The National Indian Education Association is a membership based organization committed to increasing educational opportunities and resources for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students while protecting our cultural and linguistic traditions."
"NISBA's mission is to support quality education in a safe environment from early childhood through life in accordance with the Tribe's needs for cultural and economic well-being in keeping with the wide diversity of Indian tribes and communities as distinct cultural and governmental entities. Its vision is to have empowered school board members, parents and other stakeholders exercising effective stewardship of Indian education in cooperation with their respective tribal governments."
The US Department of Education's Office of Indian Education oversees the Title VII program under the No Child Left Behind Act. Through this resource information about the Title VII program can be accessed.
"RSVP (the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) is part of Senior Corps, a network of national service programs that provides older Americans the opportunity to apply their life experience to meeting community needs." This link provides information on Senior Corpos programs for Indian communities.
"Tribal Education Departments National Assembly (TEDNA) is a membership organization for the Education Departments of American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes."
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