Indian Education
OVERVIEW | HISTORY | INITIATIVES | CONTACT
OVERVIEW
The South Dakota Department of Education is committed to improving educational opportunities for American Indian students in our state. The department works closely with an Indian Education Advisory Council, which represents all nine tribes in South Dakota along with American Indian educators from all parts of the state.
The challenges facing our American Indian students and educators are daunting. However, with a spirit of cooperation and determination, we believe we can improve the educational system for our American Indian students and staff members. We hope that you will join us in this worthwhile endeavor.
HISTORY
Nine American Indian tribes lie within, or partially within South Dakota’s borders, and American Indians make up a very large portion of South Dakota’s minority population. To address the unique educational and social issues facing South Dakota’s American Indian youth, the South Dakota Legislature passed the Indian Education Act in 2007. This act put the state’s Office of Indian Education into statute and demonstrated a long-term commitment to the academic advancement of American Indian students.
INITIATIVES
GEAR UP South Dakota
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005, the total federal award for this six-year grant is approximately $6.9 million.
The main goal of the GEAR UP program is to increase the number of first-generation, low-income American Indian students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
Currently, GEAR UP is working with a diverse set of 24 middle and 14 high schools that include public, parochial and contract grant schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education. During the 2009-10 school year, the GEAR UP program served 4,939 students and 3,984 parents all across the state of South Dakota.
South Dakota College Access Challenge
First awarded to the Department of Education through the South Dakota Governor’s Office in 2008, and then renewed in August 2010, the South Dakota College Access Challenge is a program designed to assist underrepresented K-12 students in their transition to postsecondary education.
College Access works with more than 30 high schools, as well as the state’s four technical institutes, regental universities, and four tribal colleges.
Oceti Sakowin Standards Work Group
Funded by the Indian Land Tenure Foundation in 2008, the main goal of the Oceti Sakowin Standards project is to define the core concepts essential to understanding and teaching the history and culture of the Oceti Sakowin. These core concepts will then be used to create new content standards related to Indian history and culture. Oceti Sakowin History and Culture Standards will be completed by September of 2011. The work group responsible for creating the standards is Stephanie Charging Eagle, Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Dorothy Lebeau, Earl Bullhead and Dan Snyder.
CONTACT
For more information, contact Roger Campbell, Director of Indian Education.
The South Dakota Department of Education is committed to improving educational opportunities for American Indian students in our state. The department works closely with an Indian Education Advisory Council, which represents all nine tribes in South Dakota along with American Indian educators from all parts of the state.
The challenges facing our American Indian students and educators are daunting. However, with a spirit of cooperation and determination, we believe we can improve the educational system for our American Indian students and staff members. We hope that you will join us in this worthwhile endeavor.
HISTORY
Nine American Indian tribes lie within, or partially within South Dakota’s borders, and American Indians make up a very large portion of South Dakota’s minority population. To address the unique educational and social issues facing South Dakota’s American Indian youth, the South Dakota Legislature passed the Indian Education Act in 2007. This act put the state’s Office of Indian Education into statute and demonstrated a long-term commitment to the academic advancement of American Indian students.
INITIATIVES
GEAR UP South Dakota
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005, the total federal award for this six-year grant is approximately $6.9 million.
The main goal of the GEAR UP program is to increase the number of first-generation, low-income American Indian students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
Currently, GEAR UP is working with a diverse set of 24 middle and 14 high schools that include public, parochial and contract grant schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education. During the 2009-10 school year, the GEAR UP program served 4,939 students and 3,984 parents all across the state of South Dakota.
South Dakota College Access Challenge
First awarded to the Department of Education through the South Dakota Governor’s Office in 2008, and then renewed in August 2010, the South Dakota College Access Challenge is a program designed to assist underrepresented K-12 students in their transition to postsecondary education.
College Access works with more than 30 high schools, as well as the state’s four technical institutes, regental universities, and four tribal colleges.
Oceti Sakowin Standards Work Group
Funded by the Indian Land Tenure Foundation in 2008, the main goal of the Oceti Sakowin Standards project is to define the core concepts essential to understanding and teaching the history and culture of the Oceti Sakowin. These core concepts will then be used to create new content standards related to Indian history and culture. Oceti Sakowin History and Culture Standards will be completed by September of 2011. The work group responsible for creating the standards is Stephanie Charging Eagle, Lydia Whirlwind Soldier, Dorothy Lebeau, Earl Bullhead and Dan Snyder.
CONTACT
For more information, contact Roger Campbell, Director of Indian Education.
