Native Education

We help American Indian and Alaska Native students:

• Qualify for specialized academic services and non-academic support. 
• With placement, transfers, discipline, truancy questions and concerns.
• Access behavioral mental health and chemical dependency services.
• Access various district and program engagement opportunities.
• Navigate post-secondary options - college and career pathways support specific to American Indian & Alaska Native learners.
• Grow their culturally-responsive leadership capacity. 

The Native Education Program also:

• Supports the integration and ongoing development of the Washington State Since Time Immemorial Tribal Sovereignty Curriculum.
• Advocates for Native students and their families.
• Serves as a liaison between students, families, school staff and community agencies.
• Provides information and advisement about tribal affiliation and enrollment processes to American Indian or Alaska Native students.

All American Indian and Alaska Native students and their families are strongly encouraged to enroll in the program and participate in program activities.

Forms

To be enrolled in the Native Education Program, please complete the following forms: 

Please do not leave the tribal affiliation space blank on the form. Be sure to sign and date the form. Think you may have filled out this form in the past? It is critical that this form is current, complete and on file for each student. Please contact us if you have questions or are unsure.

Federal Eligibility Form

How to Submit the Forms 

There are several ways to submit the forms.

Email: sara.ortiz@highlineschools.org

Mail: 
Highline Native Education Office @ Highline Central Office 
ATTN: Sara Marie Ortiz 
15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW 
Burien, WA 98166 

In person: 
You may also submit the the form at your school office, directing them to email to Native Education Program Office/Program Manager Sara Marie Ortiz, or send directly to Sara Marie Ortiz at the HPS Central Office, using the address above. 

Questions

Please contact Sara Marie Ortiz at 206-631-3162 if you have any questions or concerns. 

The Native Education Program is committed to working with, and on behalf of, Native students and families:

• To provide authentic, culturally relevant, responsive and competent academic support to Native students.
• To actively support the academic success of our Native students in high school and prepare them for college, successful careers, and meaningful citizenship.
• To highlight programs, services, and resources in Highline Public Schools, currently available to all students, and support Native students and families in accessing these resources to maximize Native student success.
• To empower students and their families to be positive change-makers in their communities by providing quality academic advancement, community service opportunities, mentorship opportunities, and leadership development opportunities.

Successfully executed programs and services include:

• Native student/family advocacy
• Direct academic support provided to American Indian/Alaska Native students across grades
• College/career readiness advisement and mentoring
• Native art, culture, Indigenous Knowledge Frameworks, and community leadership exposure
• District-wide implementation framework development of the Washington State Since Time Immemorial Tribal Sovereignty Curriculum (ongoing)
• Program development/capacity building and donor relationship building
• Drafting/passage of and ongoing implementation of and adherence to the Highline Public Schools Native Education Board Policy (2197)
• Support of HPS leadership/admin/staff's culturally-rooted and informed service to Native students across grades, schools, and content areas
• Strategic and intensive community partner/stakeholder engagement and support
• Cross-district scaling of promising practices in Native K-12 education, inclusive of co-teaching/learning opportunities with the Western Washington State Native American Education Consortium, Washington State Indian Education Association, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, National Indian Education Association, Urban Native Education Alliance, University of Washington, Highline College, and other key Native education stakeholders
• Intensive family engagement for families of Native students in Highline and support of high level community/family/tribal participation in development of district policies/procedures and programming to ensure Native student success
• Extension of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-supported Partnering for Early Native Learner Success Project, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe-supported Plan for Native Student Success, Native Student Secondary Success strand, and the ongoing enhancement of the Highline Public Schools Native Family Advisory Council
• Ongoing development and full support of the Native Student Literacy Success Summer Academy and Native Education K-8 Literacy Liaison who works across the district to support the improved literacy proficiency of our Title III qualified Native students K-8 with limited Native Title III support also provided to students in grades 9-12

College

University of Washington Native Student Resources 

36 Questions To Ask on A College Visit 

Best Colleges College Financial Aid Resources 

College Scholarships for Minority Students 

State by State College Affordability Guide 

Catching the Dream Native American Scholarship

American Indian Graduate Center

American Indian College Fund

Northwest Indian College

Evergreen Native Programs

Northwest Indian College Traditional Plants and Foods

College Horizons/Graduate Horizons: college visit/readiness program for Native high school & college students

UW American Indian Student Commission

General Assistance

Seattle Indian Center

Seattle Indian Health Board

Chief Seattle Club

Cowlitz Tribal Health Seattle (Located in Tukwila)

Puget Sound Head Start

United Indians of All Tribes/Daybreak Star Cultural Center/Labateyah House 

United Indians of All Tribes Ina Maka Family Program

Northwest Justice Project: Low cost or no-cost legal services for Native families

Internet for Low Income Families

24/7 Crisis Line

Domestic Violence Resources King County

Cultural Communities in King CountyMuckleshoot Indian Tribe (Highline's Closest Federally Recognized Tribe)

Duwamish Tribal Services Cindy Williams, Chairwoman, Cecile Hansen

Red Eagle Soaring, Native Youth Theater Program

Potlatch Fund

Tulalip Lushootseed Language Program

Washington Tribes

Native Arts & Cultures Foundation

Longhouse Media/SuperFly Native Film Bootcamp

American Indian Women’s Service League info

American Indian/ Alaskan Native Education

OSPI/Office of Native Education Since Time Immemorial Native Sovereignty Curriculum

Seattle Public Schools Native American Education Program

United Way King County Vision for the Urban Indian Community Report 2014

National Congress of American Indians Native Youth Programs

Washington State Indian Education Association

Western Washington Native American Education Consortium 

Urban Native Ed Listening Session Transcript: May 2012 (Seattle, WA)

White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education

Title VI Indian Education Eligibility Form (Expires 2019)

Title VI Indian Formula Grant Programs Parent/Family Committee/Council Roles & Guidelines

Urban Native Education Alliance/Clear Sky Native Youth Council

AISES

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Seattle Foundation

Washington STEM

Native B.R.I.D.G.E

Seattle Art Museum Salish Resource Guide from/in conjunction with permanent exhibit @ SAM

United States Office of Indian Education (Department of Education)

U.S. Department of Education Office of Indian Education 
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Room 3E201, LBJ Bldg.
Washington, DC 20202-6335
Phone: 202-260-3774
Fax: 202-205-0606
E-Mail: indian.education@ed.gov

Association on American Indian Affairs

Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Office of Native Education
360.725.6160/360.515.8023

OSPI Office of Native Education Director
Jon.Claymore@k12.wa.us 

WA State OSPI Office of Native Education 
Old Capitol Building
PO Box 47200
Olympia,WA
98504