Alaska’s Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools

1. TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013 Alaska’s Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools

2. The Need for Cultural Standards “Though the emphasis [of the Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools] is on rural schools serving Native communities, many of the standards are applicable to all student and communities because they focus curricular attention on in-depth study of the surrounding physical and cultural environment…” - Preface, Alaska Standard for Culturally Responsive Schools TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

3. How will Alaskan students benefit from the Cultural Standards? The Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools will: • Complement instructional content standards • Support the development of college-, career-, and culturally-ready graduates • Help contextualize academic content within the students’ individual world views • Honor the support and importance of community in K-12 education • Shift the focus in curriculum from teaching about culture heritage to teaching through cultural heritage TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

4. Why develop Cultural Standards? “….the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative developed the Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools. These standards, created with the help of Alaska Native stakeholders, provide guidelines for schools and communities as they examine how their practices promote the cultural well-being of their students.” - Guide to Implementing the Alaska Cultural Standards for Educators TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

5. TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

6. TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

7. Alaska Native Education:Steps Toward Reciprocity TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

8. Timeline TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

9. What are the Standards? TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

10. What are the Standards? TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

11. What is a Cultural Standard? TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

12. Cultural Standards for Educators • Educators incorporate local ways of knowing and teaching in work • Educators use the local environment and resources on a regular basis to link what they are teaching to the everyday lives of their students • Educators participate in community events and activities in an appropriate and supportive way • Educators work closely with parents to achieve a high level of complementarities between home and school educational expectations • Educators recognize the full educational potential of each student and provide the challenges necessary to achieve their potential TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

13. Guide to Implementing the Alaska Cultural Standards for Educators TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

14. Activity • Divide into Groups • Discuss where you/your school rates on the indicators. • Discuss how you might use this information in your work. • What might be your challenges? • What might be your strengths? TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

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16. Relevant Laws & Regulations • Completion of three credits in Alaska studies and three credits in multicultural education or cross-cultural communications for certification. • Preference given to applicants who demonstrate training or experience who “…are likely to be sensitive to the traditions and culture of the cultural backgrounds represented in the student population (Sec 14.20.035) TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

17. Laws & Regulations Continued 4 AAC 04.200. Professional content and performance standards. (e) the content and performance standards that apply to a beginning teacher for purposes of completing of a teacher preparation program include the standards described in the Guidelines for Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers for Alaska’s Schools,… (e) (3) A beginning teacher teaches students with respect for their individual and cultural characteristics. Performances that reflect attainment of this standard include (A) making connections with local cultures and with the individual and cultural characteristics of the students… (B) using resources and information about the community… (C) recognizing and minimizing bias in instructional materials and practice; (D) using culturally appropriate communication, instructional strategies, and way of knowing, and using knowledge of the cultural standards… (e) (7) (C) relating curriculum to local lifestyles, using culturally relevant lesson plans using local experts, local artists, and field trips, and using other instructional strategies that connect classroom activities with student’ cultures and families and with the local community;… TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

18. Changes to regulation State regulation regarding the Cultural Standards has changed recently. The Cultural Standards are now a required consideration in every Alaskan teacher, administrator and special service provider evaluation. TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

19. For more information… Please visit these websites and/or order materials for your school/district: • http://education.alaska.gov/akstandards/#c3gtabs-cultural • http://www.ankn.uaf.edu/ANKNPublications#standards TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013

20. THANK YOU! TLS Institute, Anchorage Hilton, Sept. 16-17th, 2013 Chris Simon chris.simon@alaska.gov 907.451.2355