Chris Simon
Director of Rural Education
Department of Education & Early Development
chris.simon@alaska.gov
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Alaska’s Standards for
Culturally Responsive
Schools
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“Making up more than ten percent of Alaska's
population, Native Alaskans are the state's
largest minority group. Yet most non-Native
Alaskans know surprisingly little about the
histories and cultures of their indigenous
neighbors, or about the important issues they
face.”
Libby Roderick,
Alaska Native Cultures and Issues: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
The Need for Cultural Standards
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“….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
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
The Need for Cultural Standards
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The Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative was
responsible for developing the cultural standards
with funding from the National Science
Foundation and Annenberg Rural Challenge, and
with input from diverse stakeholders across the
state, including:




The Alaska Federation of Natives
The Alaska Native Knowledge Network
The Assembly of Alaska Native Educators
The University of Alaska
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Who developed the Cultural
Standards?
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Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
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Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Alaska Native Education:
Steps Toward Reciprocity
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Timeline of progress
1733 – 1867: Russian-America Colony
1867: USA purchases Alaska
1959: Alaska becomes a State
Mid 1970’s: REAA’s Established (local Boards of Education)
Early 1990’s: Requirements of (6) credits in Multicultural and Alaska Studies
1995: Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative
1998: Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools
1999: Guidelines for Preparing Culturally Responsive Teachers
2000: State Board of Education adopts student section of the Standards for Culturally
Responsive Schools
2009: Director of Rural Education Position Created at EED
2010: State Board Adopts Educator Sections of Standard
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
1971: Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act
2010: Stakeholder Group Review of the Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools
2011: Rubrics created for Culturally Responsive Classrooms
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Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
What are the Standards?
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Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
What are the Standards?
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Connect
Benchmark
Contextualize
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
What is a Cultural Standard?
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A. Educators incorporate local ways of knowing and teaching in
work
B. Educators use the local environment and resources on a regular
basis to link what they are teaching to the everyday lives of
their students
C. Educators participate in community events and activities in an
appropriate and supportive way
D. Educators work closely with parents to achieve a high level of
complementarities between home and school educational
expectations
E. Educators recognize the full educational potential of each
student and provide the challenges necessary to achieve their
potential
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Cultural Standards for Educators
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Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Guide to Implementing the Alaska
Cultural Standards for Educators
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Activity
– 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?
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
• Divide into Groups
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Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
The Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive
Schools will:
 Complement instructional content standards
 Support the development of college-, career-, and
community-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
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
How will Alaskan students benefit
from the Cultural Standards?
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State regulation
regarding the Cultural
Standards has changed
recently. The Cultural
Standards are now a
required consideration in
every Alaskan teacher’s
performance review.
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
Changes to regulation
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Chris Simon
chris.simon@alaska.gov
907.451.2355
Provider’s Conference, August 28-30th, 2013
THANK YOU!
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