The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is taking on a couple of educational initiatives, including the fight to implement Native American studies into middle and high school curriculums and the improvement of classroom technology.
Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn testified earlier this month on behalf of an educational instruction bill designed to establish model curriculum for Native American studies for grades seven through 12. The bill, AB 738, would require the Instructional Quality Commission to develop such curriculum, require the state Board of Education to adopt it, and encourage junior high and high schools in California to implement the curriculum in their classrooms.
The bill’s text said the Native American studies courses would have “the objective of preparing pupils to be global citizens with an appreciation for the contributions of multiple cultures, will close the achievement gap, reduce pupil truancy, increase pupil enrollment, reduce dropout rates, and increase graduation rates.”
School districts and charter schools of grades nine through 12 would be able to offer the curriculum starting the school year following AB 738’s adoption, the bill said.
“Native Americans celebrate their heritage through language, customs, and traditions,” Kahn said in a press release from the tribe. “Every tribe has its own story, and AB 738 creates the vehicle to expand the story of California beyond just the missions.”
The release said California has the third largest population of American Indian students.
“This bill ensures a relevant and accurate curriculum that teaches all students about federally recognized tribes in California and their rich history and significant contribution to our state and country,” author Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) said in the release.
Limón introduced AB 738 on Feb. 15, and it passed through the committee with unanimous votes in favor on April 5.
On top of that, the Chumash launched on April 24 a program for technology in schools, which will provide grant dollars to fund upgrades for computer equipment and other classroom resources for schools in Santa Barbara County.
Administrators and faculty members can apply for the grant from the Chumash Foundation for the 2017-2018 school year now, and applicants must provide a proposal narrative, project budget, bids and estimates, and a support letter from the school principal or district superintendent.
Application materials are available online at santaynezchumash.org/contributions.html, and the last day to apply is May 31.
This article appears in Apr 27 – May 4, 2017.