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California Indian Education for All Community Update
San Diego County Office of Education and California Indian Education for All
UPCOMING EVENTS
February 3, 2023
SDCOE and CIEFA's Native Ways of Knowing Book List:
Decolonizing and Indigenizing Classrooms and Libraries
To help educators and parents choose high-quality Indigenous authored books, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and California Indian Education (CIEFA) have designed this Native Ways of Knowing Book List: Decolonizing and Indigenizing Classrooms and Libraries. These books have been vetted by Native American scholars, CIEFA, and SDCOE staff. Please consider adding these insightful and vibrant Indigenous authored books to your school, classroom, or home library. Adding these books to your classroom will help teach young readers empathy, courage, resilience, sovereignty, and Native Ways of Knowing. These suggested Indigenous authors and illustrators utilize Indigenous storytelling and convey the breadth of Native cultures and sovereignty.
Ensuring Excellence and Equitable Learning
for All American Indian Students

The San Diego COE and CIEFA have a newly designed 2023 Winter/Spring Ensuring Excellence and Equitable Learning for All American Indian Students Training Series. All trainings and resources are aligned to the SDCOE Equity Blueprint for Action. PK-12 educators, administrators, Title VI committee members, Tribal Education staff, and SDCOE  American Indian Education Talking Circle Network members are invited to a free American Indian Education Leaders Training Series. As a community, we will gather to learn from American Indian Education experts to learn and share effective practices for engaging Native families and tribal communities. This series will provide resources to improve the educational programs for Native youth and families. This Community of Practice will share resources and programs in K-12 education related to American Indian Education, Title VI, culturally responsive instructional materials, Native Youth Leadership, community engagement, and improvement strategies to facilitate Native community leadership and agency in schools. We welcome those who share a commitment for improving access, opportunities, and support to allow American Indian students to thrive in school. All live training will be digitized and placed in micro-courses with accompanying resources for ongoing professional learning. 
Overview of the Ensuring Excellence and Equitable Learning for All American Indian Students 
Feb 8 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST, Zoom webinar
Title VI Training for American Indian Education District Leaders and Tribal Community Leaders
Feb 15 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST, Zoom webinar
Best Practices for Title VI Committee Members
Feb 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST, Zoom webinar
Two-Day Title VI Leadership Academy
March 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in-person training in San Diego County
Native Family Engagement American Indian Education Talking Circle
Historical Perspectives for Working with Native Communities
March 22 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PDT, Zoom webinar
Understanding Tribal Sovereignty and Outreach to Native American Families
April 5 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PDT, Zoom webinar
Working with Native Families: Barriers and Opportunities
April 12 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PDT, Zoom webinar
Two-Day Native Family and Tribal Community Engagement Academy
April 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in-person training in San Diego County
Improving Native Youth Attendance and School Climate
May 10 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PDT, Zoom webinar
Tribal Attendance Promising Practices Academy
May 19 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in-person training in San Diego County
Facilitating and Encouraging Native Youth Leadership
May 31 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST, Zoom webinar 
Infusing Native American Culture in the Curriculum
June 7 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST, Zoom webinar 
Essential Understandings for Designing Native American Studies Curriculum
June 14 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. PST, Zoom webinar
Infusing Native American Culture in the Curriculum Academy
June 15 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in-person training in San Diego County
SoCal NASMC Listening Circles
We hope to see you at an upcoming
SoCal virtual Native American Studies Model Curriculum Listening Circle

You are invited to attend a virtual SoCal Native American Studies Model Curriculum Community Engagement Listening Circle. These events are co-hosted by San Diego County Office of Education, California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center,California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, and California Indian Education for All. Additional information about these Community Engagement Listening Circles is on this NASMC flyer.

Upcoming Dates:
Feb. 8 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 28 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
March 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
April 11 from 5 to 6:30 p.m

Access the ZOOM link for the NASMC Listening Circles:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
FAQs about Native American Studies Model Curriculum

What is the California Native American Studies Model Curriculum?
The California Native American Studies Model Curriculum (NASMC) will support the design and development of open-source lesson plans, primary source documents, planning resources, teaching strategies, and professional development activities to assist California K-12 educators in teaching about California Native American Studies. The NASMC is a statewide partnership effort funded through the California Department of Education. The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) and the Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) have been selected as lead agencies to jointly lead the facilitation and development of the California Native American Studies Model Curriculum. Per AB 167, the NASMC is defined as lesson plans, primary source documents, planning resources, teaching strategies, and professional development activities to assist educators in teaching about Native American Studies. To learn more please visit our SoCal Native American Studies Model Curriculum webpage: https://www.sdcoe.net/educators/nasmc

Who are the guiding Native American scholars?
The NASMC project is guided by leadership of three respected California Native American scholars:
  • Nicole Myers-Lim, J.D., Pomo, Executive Director of the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
  • Cutcha Risling Baldy, Ph.D, Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Native American Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt University
  • Joely Proudfit, Ph.D, Luiseño/Payomkowishum, Department Chair of American Indian Studies; Professor of American Indian Studies; Director of California Indian Culture & Sovereignty Center at California State University San Marcos
The NASMC project is guided by leadership of three respected California Native American scholars:
Nicole Myers-Lim, J.D., Pomo, Executive Director of the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
Cutcha Risling Baldy, Ph.D, Hupa, Yurok, and Karuk, Assoc
What is the purpose of California Native American Studies Model Curriculum? What grades will the NASMC support?
The NASMC will be written as a guide for school districts and charter schools to adapt their K–12 curriculum across multiple grades and subjects and Native American Studies courses to reflect the student and Tribal demographics in their communities. The curriculum will include examples of courses offered by schools and districts that have been approved as meeting the A–G admissions requirements of the University of California and the California State University. The NASMC and instructional materials will align with the needs of Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K–12) students and teachers. Curricula and instructional materials will be developed in partnership with Tribal and other Native American organizations. In many cases the project will not create new content, but will share Tribally developed curriculum and resources.

This three-year project that will conclude in June 2025, responds to the urgent need to design culturally responsive, placed-based instructional resources and champion California Indian and Native American authored digital units and resources. The NASMC will have a culturally responsive curriculum and educational resources that improve representations and classroom climates for teaching and learning about California's first people. The embedded NASMC professional learning and resources will help teachers and schools educate children and youth about the diverse histories, cultures and contributions of California Native peoples. The NASMC courses, units and resources, including A–G approved high school Native American Studies courses within California’s curriculum, will prepare all students to be global citizens with an appreciation for the contributions of multiple cultures, will close the opportunity gap, reduce student truancy, increase student enrollment, reduce dropout rates, and increase graduation rates.

How will the California Native American Studies Model Curriculum be developed?
By design, the California model curriculum will be developed in partnership with California Native American tribes, Native American educational, cultural experts, K–12 educators, native youth serving organizations, and multiple County Offices of Education. The NASMC will share Tribally developed curriculum and resources and be written as a guide for school districts and charter schools to adapt their K–12 curriculum across multiple grades and subjects and Native American Studies courses to reflect the student and Tribal demographics in their communities. Furthermore, lessons and materials will not be limited to History/Social Science or any one content area. For example, lessons and materials developed and/or shared statewide through the project will support science instruction (i.e. lessons focused on Traditional Ecological Knowledge), art and cultural instruction, history (ranging from Native Peoples and Nations in a school’s local area taught in early grades to lessons on Sovereignty and Treaties taught in high school history and civics classes).

How will the community be involved?
SDCOE and HCOE will host several, virtual and in-person NASMC Community Engagement Listening Circles in Southern California and Northern California respectively. Perspectives and voices of California tribal community members, Native American youth, educators, and cultural bearers will lead the development of NASMC. During NASMC Listening Circles, participants will learn about possible goals, vision, and outcomes of the NASMC; discuss their hopes for the NASMC; and provide guidance on the NASMC Essential Understandings and curriculum topics. In the Listening Circles, There will be more information shared on how to become more involved.
Access Resources and Learn:
California Indian Education for All Webpage: https://caindianeducationforall.com
Free Native Ways of Knowing Micro-Courses: https://bit.ly/NativeWaysofKnowing
2022-23 SDCOE California Indian Education Resource Guide: https://bit.ly/CIE_ResourceGuide
Native American Studies Model Curriculum CommunityListening Circle: https://bit.ly/NASMC-ListeningCircle
Ensuring Excellence and Equitable Learning for All American Indian Students Series https://bit.ly/AIE-2023Series
Native Ways of Knowing Book List: https://bit.ly/NativeWaysofKnowingBooks
More Resources for Supporting Native American Youth and Families

California Indian Education for All is a statewide partnership that provides resources and tools, along with life and on-demand learning opportunities to promote the education of youth about the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of California Native peoples.

The SDCOE and CIEFA California Indian Education Resource Guide provides an overview of SDCOE American Indian Education projects, networking opportunities, and grants that are supporting in collaboration with tribal leaders and educators.The professional learning (PL) opportunities offered in this catalog are designed specifically to ensure local education agencies (LEAs - school/districts and charter schools) can establish, expand and refine successful American Indian Education learning programs in collaboration with tribal governments, AI/AN students and families, and tribal community members.

The SDCOE Equity Blueprint for Action is another resource for educators to co-create welcoming spaces that honor and recognize American Indian culture and history in our schools. The compendium website includes additional resources for Local Control and Accountability Plans.