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Board approves Native American education resolution; NAPAC outlines curriculum, language and assessment priorities
Summary
The board approved a resolution of concurrence for District 196’s American Indian Education Program after a presentation from program staff and the Native American Parent Advisory Committee, which recommended curriculum expansion, a district inventory of native-authored books, continued teacher training and Title I needs assessments.
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board voted Feb. 9 to accept a resolution of concurrence from its Native American Parent Advisory Committee (NAPAC) and to endorse the district’s American Indian Education Program goals and recommendations.
Lisa Turjan, District 196’s American Indian Education Program coordinator, and Virgil Jones, director of equity and inclusion, described program activities across grade levels, funding sources (Minnesota Department of Education American Indian Education Aid Grant and federal Title VI Indian Education funds), and an enrollment snapshot: about 579 students in the program representing some 67 tribal nations, with the largest numbers self-reported as Ojibwe and Dakota.
Nicole Lryree Brovald, NAPAC chairperson, presented four key recommendations to the board: strengthen American Indian curriculum implementation across grades and subjects, conduct a district-wide inventory of authentic Native-authored books in classrooms and media centers, continue professional development to build teacher proficiency in culturally responsive instruction, and perform needs assessments at Title I schools to identify barriers to Native student achievement.
Program staff described expanded Dakota-language programming — Dakota language clubs at all 20 elementary schools and plans to develop a high-school world-language elective — and cultural family advocate staffing that supports academic and cultural learning, family engagement nights and a district-wide powwow in May.
Board members thanked NAPAC and administration for the presentation. A motion to accept the resolution of concurrence passed 7–0.
The district said the program operates on a rolling four-year grant cycle; staff told the board they are in year one of the current grant period and will continue measuring progress against the program’s measurable goals.
