Missoula School District Wins Education Award to Invest in Indian Education for All

Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau announced Missoula School District http://www.mcps.k12.mt.us/portal/default.aspx has won a $14,100 award to advance Indian Education for All (IFEA) for Missoula area students. Missoula School district was one of only 17 Montana schools that will receive grants to help enhance and sustain the program.

"These awards are an investment in the young people who will shape the future of Montana," said Juneau. The award will help fund an 18-month project in which districts will work cooperatively with a Montana tribal government entity, a tribal college, a tribal educator, or an Indian education organization to promote sustainable (IEFA) efforts in Montana school districts.

The Montana Indian Education for All Act, the first of its kind in the country, provides that Montana schools to include curricula about the history, culture and contemporary status of the state’s American Indian population. The act is based on Montana’s constitution, which reads that the state "recognizes the distinct and unique cultural heritage of the American Indian and is committed in its educational goals to the preservation of their cultural integrity."

"We are proud of the efforts to sustain Indian Education for All in Missoula schools," said Juneau. "The history and contemporary culture of American Indians is a significant piece of Montana’s heritage.”

Juneau said what makes these awards unique is that they offer different kinds of support to meet the specific needs identified by local districts. “Some schools are compiling materials for classrooms, some are setting up training for staff, and some schools are creating and evaluating comprehensive curricula,” she said.