State-Tribal Education Compacting

What is tribal compacting of education?

Compacting is a process through which the State of Alaska and an Alaskan Native Tribal entity reach an agreement that formally recognizes a Tribal entity's authority to operate and oversee K-12 schools. These State Tribal Education Compact Schools (STECs) would be public schools open to all students and would offer a unique, culturally rich combination of Western and millennia-old tribal educational models. An excellent education for every student every day is only a STEC away! 

Tribal Compacting of Education: How did we get here?

In September 2016, Commissioner Michael Johnson and the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development (State Board), recognizing the need for educational reform in Alaska, made changes to the Department of Education & Early Development’s (DEED) mission and vision statements. Recognizing the critical need to improve students educational outcomes and overall well-being, they established five strategic priorities designed to better ensure an excellent public education for all of Alaska’s students.

In April 2017, Commissioner Johnson and the State Board formally launched Alaska’s Education Challenge. Nearly 100 Alaskans from all corners of the State, representing diverse backgrounds, interests and experiences, convened to work collaboratively in developing up to three recommendations for each of the State Board’s five strategic priorities:

1. Amplify Student Learning
2. Ensure Excellent Educators
3. Modernize the Education System
4. Inspire Tribal and Community Ownership of Educational Excellence
5. Promote Safety and Well-Being

The committee that focused on Strategic Priority No. 4 (Inspire Tribal and Community Ownership of Educational Excellence) ultimately agreed on the following recommendation that the State Board later adopted:

Self-Governance Compacting: Create the option for self-governance compacting for the delivery of education between the State of Alaska and Tribes or tribally-empowered Alaska Native organizations.

Who benefits from State-Tribal Compact Schools?

Self-governance compacting for the delivery of education means that Tribes, or tribally empowered Alaska Native organizations, will have the opportunity to partner with the State of Alaska, to assume the responsibility (and receive the associated funding) to carry out educational programs, functions, services, and activities the State otherwise would be obligated to provide. Tribal entities will have the option to establish State-Tribal Education Compact Schools (STECs). In accordance with Alaska’s constitution, these STECs will be public schools that are open to all students, Native and non-Native alike.

The conviction that local communities are best-situated to address the educational needs of their students is foundational to Alaska’s system of education. Accordingly, we believe that if Tribes have greater ownership and local control over education, student outcomes in their communities will improve. As a result, all Alaskan students, and their communities, may benefit from having access to this additional, innovative educational pathway.

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How will STECs be established?

At the 2019 Alaska Federation of Natives convention, Governor Michael Dunleavy joined the State Board and Commissioner Johnson in announcing his support for tribal compacting in education.

In so doing, this administration has affirmed the State’s commitment to honor the relationship between tribal entities and itself, and has recognized the importance of that relationship in achieving to better educational outcomes for Alaska’s students.

In July 2021, DEED announced a $1 million grant to the Alaska Federation of Natives to scope tribal compacting of education in Alaska.

Under the agreement, AFN will:

1. Identify relevant federal and state laws and regulations;
2. Compile relevant material related to educating Alaska Native students;
3. Engage with Alaska Native leaders and subject matter experts on educational compacting options
4. Design of a comprehensive path forward
5. Design seminars for educators and administrators on the why and what of compacting
6. Participate in discussions with the State of Alaska and various committees of the Alaska State Legislature to respond to questions on the final pathway report.

The grant period runs through June 30, 2024 and is funded by the CARES and ARP Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

Legislative action that clearly sets forth the overall process for creating a pilot program to establish STECs will be the next critical step we must take together to inspire and establish greater Tribal ownership of educational excellence and to meet Alaska’s Educational Challenge. Senate Bill 34 can be found here Alaska State Legislature (akleg.gov).

Check out the selected State Tribal Education Compact Demonstration Tribal Partnerships Grant Applications.

Central Council Tlingit Haida_STEC_Application

Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope (ICAS)_STEC_Application

Ketchikan Indian Community_STEC_Application

King Island Native Community_STEC_Application

Knik STEC demonstation_STEC_Application

The approved State Tribal Education Compact Schools Demonstration Legislative Report can be found below.

STEC Legislative Report