Board discusses Indigenous student outcomes, OSEU standards and district supports

Board members and community partners addressed persistent achievement gaps affecting Indigenous students and discussed the district’s work to address those disparities.

At the PAC committee report and during other discussion, board members credited PAC interventions and Indian Education staff for contributing to higher graduation rates and better student outcomes among Native American students. Board members praised recent outreach — including a strong RCAS presence at the Native American Day parade — and urged ongoing work to sustain gains.

Board member Christine Stephenson suggested the district consider requiring Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings (OSEU) instruction across schools so all students receive consistent, age-appropriate exposure to Lakota/Dakota history and culture. Trustees noted that making OSEU mandatory would involve expense and planning and should not be undertaken lightly, but said the concept had been raised in other districts and could be considered here after careful review. District staff reported they have already worked to embed OSEU standards into newly revised social-studies standards and collaborated with OSEU mentors and staff during that work.

No formal policy was adopted. Board members asked administration to continue reporting on indicators related to Indigenous student achievement and to consider whether stronger curricular requirements or more frequent reporting would help close performance gaps.