Alaska Native Education

What's New

On October 1, 2024, the regulator revisions to 2 CFR Part 200, commonly referred to as the Uniform Guidance, became effective. 

• For 2024 Revised Uniform Guidance, please review the FAQs page found here. 
• Additional Grants Training and Management Resources may be found here.

In Fiscal Year 2024, the Alaska Native Education (ANE) program awarded 10 new grants totaling $15,857,142. These grants will support supplemental educational programs that recognize and address the unique educational needs of Alaska Natives.

Please visit the ANE Awards tab for abstracts and information on the funded projects.

Program Description

The overall purpose of the Alaska Native Education program is to meet the unique education needs of Alaska Natives and to support supplemental education programs to benefit Alaska Natives. Grantees under the program use their funds for such activities as the development of curricula and education programs that address the education needs of Alaska Native students, and the development and operation of student enrichment programs in science and mathematics. Eligible activities also include professional development for educators, activities carried out through Even Start programs and Head Start programs, family literacy services, and dropout prevention programs.

Types of Projects

Allowable activities include, but are not limited to, the development of curricula and education programs that address the education needs of Alaska Native students deepen the cultural knowledge of Alaska Native students, and the development and operation of student enrichment programs in science and mathematics. Eligible activities also include professional development for educators, activities carried out through Even Start (#84.213) programs and Head Start programs, family literacy services, and dropout prevention programs.

FY 2024 Competition

• The Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 competition closed February 13, 2024. Awards were announced in late Spring, 2024.
• To learn more about this grant opportunity and eligibility, please review the following resources:
  • Notice Inviting Applications, available Here. 
  • FY2024 Applicant Technical Assistance Webinar (pre-recorded), available Here. 
  • FY 2024 Applicant Technical Assistance Slide Deck, available Here.

FY 2024

Thru the Cultural Lens (TCL) is a cultural orientation and training and professional development project designed to improve educational outcomes of Alaska Native students in Southeast Alaska by providing high-quality culturally responsive and place-based training and resources to educators in the region. The project goal, objectives, and outcomes are as follows: Project Goal: Provide high-quality culturally responsive and place-based training and professional development activities to educators in the region to improve educational outcomes of Alaska Native students in Southeast Alaska. Objective 1: Increase teacher effectiveness and deepen praxis of culturally responsive teaching of Southeast Alaskan teachers through professional development and instructional support training. Objective 2: Build capacity and professional connections among educators to increase their ability to integrate culturally responsive practices through the provision of mentoring, networking, and coaching opportunities. The primary project activities of professional development on culturally responsive educational practices include: Annual cultural orientation seminars; Culturally Responsive UbD Workshop; Culturally Proficient Coaching; Culturally Responsive Community of Practice; and an Educational Professional Development Conference focused on Culturally Responsive Educational Practices. This project will serve 1,395 educators and paraeducators that work for the Southeast Alaskan school districts. While this project will primarily focus on and prioritize Southeast Alaskan school districts, the application for activities will also be open to educators and paraeducators in all 54 Alaskan School Districts. Activities will take place virtually and in Juneau, Alaska on the SHI Building and Arts Campus or on the University of Alaska Southeast Campus located in Juneau Alaska.

Voices on the Land: Alaska Literacy Blueprint and Arts Integration will increase the percentage of Alaska Native children advanced or proficient in Language Arts through culturally responsive literacy & arts integration. Project objectives and activities: Objective 1 implements the inquiry-based coaching model to support educators, improve instruction for 2nd and 3rd grade readers, and develop 15 arts and literacy integration Strategy Cards. Objective 2 develops culturally responsive educators through professional learning opportunities by providing embedded professional development with aligned continuing education and hosting in-service workshops. Objective 3 immerses students in cultural, literacy, and arts experiences to cultivate engagement and confidence by: (1) Alaska Native Teaching Artists provide three-week 4th-5th grade arts and literacy residencies annually. (2) hosting cultural arts literacy integration intensives for elementary students. Objective 4 grows Alaska Native Teaching Artists by establishing professional pathways (1) apprenticeships & trainings, and (2) internships and arts camps. Number of participants to be served: Annually Alaska Native people impacted include: 417 2nd – 5th graders, 75 elementary students through out-of-school intensives, 3 Teaching Artist Apprentices, 4 interns, and 10 arts camp attendees along with 85 educators who serve Alaska Native students through coaching and professional development. Number and location of proposed sites: 90 classrooms at 15 schools in Juneau, Yakutat, Ketchikan, Craig, & Klawock.

Cultural Heritage and Opportunities In Career/College Education (CHOICE) service area is the ten Yup’ik communities in the rural, western region of Alaska within the boundaries of LYSD. The project offers 260 Alaska Native 7-12th grade students an alternative to full-year boarding schools by providing three short-term CTE intensives in Anchorage at LYSD’s Kusilvak Career Academy, University of Alaska Anchorage’s Alaska Middle College School, and Chugach School District’s Voyage School. Goals are to improve educational outcomes; improve personal, social, resiliency, & urban living skills; preserve Yup’ik culture; & provide college and career preparation and planning activities. Objectives are to: 1) utilize culturally informed contextual and online curriculum; 2) provide personalized instruction; individualized career and learning plans; comprehensive school-based support services including School Based Mental Health Services; college and career exploration, preparation, and planning in career intensive units of study; personal, social, urban living, and resiliency skill training and experiences; and opportunities to share local culture and interact with Alaska Native professionals 3) integrate culture-based programming; and 4) facilitate job certifications, job-shadow, internship, apprenticeship, and dual credit opportunities.

The Ilisautri Project (Ilisautri) is a partnership between the Northwest Arctic Borough School District and the Alaska Humanities Forum. Ilisautri’s goal is to increase Alaska Native student achievement and engagement in school by increasing educator retention, improving school cultural responsiveness, and building school-community relationships. Project objectives and activities: Through Objective 1, the Creating Cultural Competence program will support educators to build community relationships and cultural competency, and stay in their districts for longer. Through Objective 2, Educators Rising Alaska will provide education career preparation to high school students across the district, with the goal of increasing their interest in pursuing education careers. Through Objective 3, the Alaska Technical Center Education Program will support paraprofessionals to become certified “homegrown” teachers, offering instruction and mentorship through a cohort structure. Number of participants to be served: 1,032 Alaska Native students and 57 educators. Number and location of proposed sites: 11 communities across the Northwest Arctic region.

Haa Kusteeyí Initiative: Building a Culture, Leadership, Ecological Knowledge, and Indigenous STEM Pathway to Post-Secondary Education & Career in Southeast Alaska (Haa Kusteeyí Initiative) is three-year project serving 60 Southeast Alaska Native young men, ages 16-24, who live in the small and remote urban communities of Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka – or live in the rural villages of Haines, Hydaburg, and Kake. The Haa Kusteeyí (Our Way of Life) Initiative draws from – and immerses our Alaska Native young men in – applying our region’s four core cultural values: Haa Latseen (Our Strength, Leadership), Haa Aaní (Our Land), Haa Shuká (Our Past, Present, Future), and Wooch Yax (Balance, Reciprocity, Respect). SHI’s Haa Latseen committee, comprised of Southeast Alaska tribal leaders and traditional food harvesters, will co-design the program’s curriculum. Project Goal and Objectives: The design of the Haa Kusteeyí Initiative is predicated first on our traditional culture and values, and then on applying Western educational outcomes to our ancient practices. Our overall project goal is to develop a culturally responsive pathway reflecting traditional “uncles training” for our Southeast Alaska Native young men to identify and pursue educational and career opportunities in natural resource management and to earn dual credit and/or six college credits. Objective 1: Increase 60 Native young men’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and science self-efficacy through their engagement in traditional harvesting practices, contextualizing Western science, and earning 6 college credits. Activities: The young men attend the 14-day Haa Aani Academy where they earn safety certifications, learn and apply TEK and Indigenous STEM skills harvesting traditional foods with Native mentors for tribal elders, and contextualize uses of Western science in natural resource management. They then complete a 120-hour Haa Shuká Program in their community, analyzing synergies between TEK/Western science and harvesting traditional foods with Native mentors for tribal elders. Objective 2: Enhance 60 Native young men’s cultural resiliency and agency for pursuing their educational/career goals through their engagement in mental wellbeing supports, cultural events, and natural resource-related career exploration. Activities: Participants learn healthy traditional life choices by engaging in Yaak Groups (modeled on “Healing of the Canoe”), host Wooch Yax Events where they serve elders foods they harvested and share with them what they have learned, and engage in natural resource management career exploration with state/federal agencies.

Rural Indigenous Students College Readiness Alliance launched by the Bering Strait and Lower Kuskokwim School Districts, the two largest rural districts in Alaska, and key partners have come together to address three areas of identified urgent educational needs of 6-12 grade Alaska Native students. These identified needs are 1) academic preparation/achievement, 2) college readiness, and 3) high school graduation. The goal is to increase the low Alaska Native students’ college-going rates. Alliance Partners: The Bering Strait School District (BSSD) as the provider in 15 schools, Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) consisting of 25 schools, Native Village of Unalakleet, Alaska Council of School Administrators/Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) and RGI Research Corporation have come together to create an alliance to address three areas of identified educational needs of Alaska Native students. BSSD will be the applicant and fiscal agent for this proposed grant. Sites: We propose to serve 15 village school sites in BSSD: Aniguiin, Anthony A. Andrews, Brevig Mission, Diomede, Gambell, Hogarth Kingeekuk Sr., James C. Isabell, Koyuk-Malimiut, Martin L. Olson, Shaktoolik, Shishmaref, Tukurngailnguq, Unalakleet, Wales, White Mountain. 25 village school sites in LKSD: Akiuk, Akula Elitnaurvik, Anna Tobeluk, Arviq, Ayagina’ar Elitnaurvik, Ayaprun, Bethel Regional High, Chaputnguak, Chief Paul, Eek, Joann A. Alexie, Ket’acik/Aapalluk, Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat, Kwigillingok, Lewis Angapak, Metarvik School, Negtemiut Elitnaurviat, Nelson Island, AreaNuniwarmiut, Paul T. Albert, Qugcuun Memorial, Rocky Mountain, William Miller, Z. John Williams, Ayaprun Elitnaurvik. Number of Students to be Served: The project will serve 2,759 students each year in grades 6-12 of whom 98% are Alaskan Native Inupiat, Yup’ik, or Siberian Yup’ik and 97% are low income. Objectives: To reverse the low college going rates of Alaska Native students, the project proposes to 1. To support students in achieving academic success in preparation for college. 2. To increase Alaska Native students’ college readiness. 3. To increase high school graduation.

The Opening the Box of Indigenous Science: STEAM Pathways project, led by Sealaska Heritage Institute, offers a comprehensive approach to integrating Indigenous Science and cultural values into STEAM education, ultimately empowering Alaska Native students to excel in these fields. Program Goals: The Opening the Box of Indigenous Science: STEAM Pathways project, aims to achieve three goals. First, it seeks to increase educator capacity for teaching and creating high quality Indigenous Science (IS)-based STEAM curriculum. Second, it aims to create opportunities for Alaska Native (AN) students to explore STEAM education and careers that center cultural identify and values. Third, it provides AN students with pathways to STEAM careers through interactions with STEAM professionals. To support these goals, SHI will use program funds for the following allowable activities which include the development of curriculum and education programs that address the educational needs and deepen the cultural knowledge of AN students, and the professional development of educators. The project outlines seven objectives. 1.1 Expand a regional IS-STEAM community of practice (CoP) comprised of STEAM educators and cultural specialists; 1.2 Create hybrid high school IS STEAM curriculum, an undergraduate IS course, and an Occupational Endorsement (OE) in Indigenous Science; 2.1 Develop dual credit opportunities for high school students through participation in Virtual Indigenous Science (VIS) courses; 2.2 Undergraduate student participation in the IS course in the Environmental Science Program at the University of Alaska, Southeast; 2.3 AN students increase expectancy in IS and STEAM careers through participation in local AISES chapters and a summer STEAM Academy; 3.1 AN students have opportunities to participate in summer internships and job shadowing experiences and/or semester-long mentorships; and 3.2 Local STEAM professionals will participate in training and opportunities to foster interest in STEAM career pathway. People/Communities Served: Over a three-year duration, the project expects to impact approximately 250 Alaska Native students and educators in 8 partner school districts, tribal organizations, and universities in Southeast Alaska.

The Teaching Culture, Honoring Heritage: Bristol Bay’s Native Language Empowerment Collaborative (TC2H) is an education initiative by the Bristol Bay Foundation in partnership with the Igiugig Village Council, Bristol Bay Borough School District, and Lake & Peninsula School District. Developed collaboratively with schools, tribes, and community members, this project serves a high concentration of AI/AN students in the targeted area, making our project a high-impact initiative that impacts 2,165 residents of 17 southwestern Alaska villages, including 350 school-age children and 48 educators across two school districts. Leveraging the momentum of existing language and education projects, TC2H will create a robust, culturally relevant program with three key goals: 1) Expanding Yup’ik, Dena’ina, Alutiiq Language and Cultural Learning Opportunities; 2) Building Strong Foundations for Holistic Community Development and Educational Excellence; and 3) Strengthening Community-School Bonds for Education Success with Enrichment Activities. Through place-based and Indigenous language curricula, expanded Indigenous language learning opportunities, educational and career counseling, identifying pathways and barriers for language access and development, enrichment programming to build community bonds, and providing trauma/healing informed training and support for program staff and educators, TC2H seeks to enhance educational outcomes for PreK-12 Alaska Native students.

Haa At.oowú Haa Kusteeyíx̱ Sitee: Our At.oowú is Our Life is proposed by Goldbelt Heritage Foundation (GHF) to the U.S. Department of Education Alaska Native Education Program, to address the unique needs of Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) students. The goal is to preserve and proliferate Tlingit endangered art forms in the education system to improve educational outcomes of PreK-12 AN/AI students in Math, Science, and English through the culturally relevant traditional knowledge of canoe carving, woolen weaving, and hide processing. This project will improve educational outcomes and have a positive impact on AN/AI student belonging and critical thinking skills by developing and teaching traditional arts-based STEAM lessons using evidence-based methods of culturally responsive teaching (CRT), place-based education (PBE), and project-based learning (PBL). Curriculum units will be taught by artist apprentices and their effectiveness assessed using an indigenous evaluation tool. By the end of the three-year grant period, GHF will deliver curriculum to 150 AN/AI youth/year for 3 years total 450 AN/AI youth served in Juneau School District.

The Building Up Bristol Bay Language Education (BUBBLE) project is an education initiative by the Bristol Bay Foundation in partnership with the Igiugig Village Council, Bristol Bay Borough School District, and Lake & Peninsula School District. Developed collaboratively with schools, tribes, and community members, this project serves a high concentration of AI/AN students in the targeted area, making our project a high-impact initiative that impacts 2,165 residents of 17 southwestern Alaska villages, including 350 school-age children and 48 educators across two school districts. Leveraging the momentum of existing language and education projects, BUBBLE will create a robust, culturally relevant program with two key goals: 1) Enrichment Activities and Resource Development for Educational Success and 2) Educational Excellence Through Culturally Informed Pedagogy. Through language immersion programming, a language summit, the development of a strategic plan for language development, traditional dance classes, traditional story publication for literacy development and bilingual education, the development of an educational resource hub, and culturally responsive teacher training, BUBBLE seeks to enhance educational outcomes for PreK-12 Alaska Native students.

FY 2022

FY 2021

FY 2019

FY 2018

FY 2017

FY 2016

Eligibility

In general, eligible applicants for the Alaska Native Education Program include nonprofit organizations and other educational organizations and/or agencies.

Specifically, the following entities are eligible:

1. Alaska Native organizations, education entities with experience in developing or operating Alaska Native programs or programs of instruction conducted in Alaska Native languages;
2. Cultural and community-based organizations with experience in developing or operating programs to benefit Alaska Natives, and consortia of organizations may apply.
3. A state education agency (SEA) or local education agency (LEA) may apply as part of a consortium involving an Alaska Native organization. The consortium may include other eligible applicants.

2021

Appropriation: $36,453,000 (Regular ANE Appropriation); $85,000,000 (American Rescue Plan)
Number of New Awards: 33
Number of Continuation Awards: 18

2020

Appropriation: $35,953,000
Number of New Awards: 0
Number of Continuation Awards: 38

2019

Appropriation: $35,453,000
Number of New Awards: 19
Number of Continuation Awards: 35
 

2018

Appropriation: $35,453,000
Number of New Awards: 20
Number of Continuation Awards: 21

2017

Appropriation: $32,453,000
Grants Awarded: 16
Number of Continuation Awards: 16

2016

Appropriation: $32,453,000
Number of New Awards: 5
Number of Continuation Awards: 48

2015

Appropriation: $31,453,000

2014

Appropriation: $31,453,000

2013

Appropriation: $31,345,135

2012

Appropriation: $33,185,161

2011

Appropriation: $33,315,000

2010

Appropriation: $33,315,000

2009

Appropriation: $33,315,000

2008

Appropriation: $33,314,645

2007

Appropriation: $33,907,500

2006

Appropriation: $33,907,500

2005

Appropriation: $34,224,000

2004

Appropriation: $33,302,350

2003

Appropriation: $30,742,000

2002

Appropriation: $24,000,000

Legislation

Regulations

The Alaska Native Education is regulated by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). The full text of EDGAR can be found here.

Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards

• For 2024 Revised Uniform Guidance, please review the FAQs page found here.
• To aid grantees in the administration of Federal grants awarded by the Department of Education, guidance may be found here. 

Performance Reports

All current ANE grantees are required to submit Annual Performance Reports (APRs) that detail their project's progress and results. More information regarding the specific APR requirements for your cohort will be provided closer to the APR due date (usually in late June).

All grantees whose grants are ending in the current fiscal year are required to submit a Final Performance Report (FPR). Further details regarding the submission of the FPR will be e-mailed to project directors closer to the FPR deadline.

If you have questions concerning the APR or FPR, need additional guidance for preparing your APR/FPR, or need instructions on submitting a paper copy of the APR/FPR, please contact the ANE Program Office at OESE.ASKANEP@ed.gov.

Government Performance Results Act

The Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) is designed to be used by both Federal Program Managers (to improve program effectiveness) and Congress (to ensure spending decisions and oversight are informed about program performance). All grantees must choose at least one GPRA measure by which to measure the efficacy of their project. This measure should be explicitly included in your application. Grantees are required to report on progress with their assigned GPRA measures in the Annual Performance Report and Final Performance Report.

The GPRA measures for the Alaska Native Education program are:

• The number of grantees who attain or exceed targets for the outcome indicators for their projects that have been approved by the Secretary.
  • The percentage of program participants who demonstrated substantial progress on outcomes outlined in a grantee-developed, Department-approved Logic Model. (Logic Model Measure) Grantees will report on their GPRA measures in Part 2 of the Annual Performance Report, which can be found above.
• The percentage of Alaska Native children participating in early education programs who consistently demonstrate school readiness in literacy as measured by the Revised Alaska Developmental Profile (ADP). (Early Childhood Measure)
• The percentage of students in schools served by the program who graduate from high school with a high school diploma in four years. (Retention Measure)
• The number of Alaska Native programs that primarily focus on Alaska Culture and Language. (Language/Culture Measure)

G5

• Portal through which grantees access ANEP grant funds: www.g5.gov
• G5 Hotline
  • Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST, Monday — Friday, except on Federal holidays.
  • Toll-Free: 1-888-336-8930
  • TTY: 1-800-877-8339
  • Email: obssed@servicenowservices.com

System for Award Management (SAM)

• Website for required UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) number registration: www.sam.gov
  • The Department has a SAM Tip Sheet available here.
• SAM Hotline: 1-866-606-8220

Grant Training and Risk Management

• Resources and information to assist grantees in fulfilling their responsibilities as good stewards of federal grant funds can be found here.

Amita Reed, Program Manager/Officer

Alaska Native Education Program

almita.reed@ed.gov

Dr. Amber Williams, Program Officer

Native Achievement Programs

amber.williams@ed.gov

Krista Taylor, Program Officer

Native Achievement Programs

krista.taylor@ed.gov

Program Office Contact Information

Email: OESE.ASKANEP@ed.gov  
Phone Number: 202-245-6911

U.S. Department of Education
LBJ Federal Office Building
400 Maryland Ave. S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-64000