Native American Programs

Los Lunas Schools provides special programs to our Native American students enrolled in our district. The programs that serve Native American students are of the highest quality and provide for not only the basic elementary and secondary educational needs, but also the unique educational and culturally related academic needs. According to the Department of Education, "the Indian Education program supports the efforts of school district, Indian tribes and organizations, post secondary institutions (like colleges and universities), and other entities to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students so that they can meet the same challenging state student academic achievement standards as all other students." Each year Los Lunas Schools applies for Title VI funding and receives Impact Aid.

Funding allocations are calculated in part by the number of Native American students in the school district who complete a 506 Form.

Impact Aid:
Impact Aid provides assistance to local school districts with concentrations of children residing on Native American and other Federal lands. Schools may use Impact Aid funds in whatever manner they choose in accordance with local and state requirements.

Indian Policies and Procedures are designed to improve communication and collaboration between the Local Education Agency and local tribal officials and parents of Indian children and are required to apply for Impact Aid.

Indian Education Committee:
The purpose of the Indian Education Committee (IEC) is only advisory to the Los Lunas Schools in developing, planning, evaluating, and implementing the most effective Native American Program, which meets the academic needs of all Native American students.

Membership
The IEC consists of 3 parents, 1 teacher or counselor, and at least one non-voting middle or high school student. Please attend the first quarterly meeting if you and/or your student are interested in being a member of this committee please contact Cathy Chavez.

Election
Election of IEC Members will be held at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the year. Parents or legal guardians of students attending Los Lunas Schools will nominate and elect an IEC.

Parent Meetings:

• Parent Meetings are held quarterly throughout the school year for community contribution/participation.
• Meeting times and locations will be posted on the department website at the beginning of the school year.

What can Title VI funding be used for?
According to the Department of Education services can include:

• Activities that incorporate American Indian and Alaska Native specific curriculum, content, consistent with Common Core Standards, into the curriculum
• Activities to educate individuals concerning substance abuse and to prevent substance abuse
• Career preparation activities
• Culturally related activities that support the application for funding
• Early childhood and family programs
• Enrichment programs that directly support the attainment of challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standard
• Family literacy services
• Integrated educational services

Permissible activities include the following:

• ACT or SAT Preparation and Testing
• Advanced Placement Coursework and testing
• Career and/or College Guidance
• Civic Projects
• Counseling
• Credit Recovery or Completion
• Libraries, Cultural Lending of Materials
• Multicultural Affairs or Events
• Student Clubs with Academic Emphasis
• Study Skills Development
• Tutoring
• Youth Leadership, Groups, or Clubs

Annual Events:

• Annual College/Career Fair
• College/University Field Trips
• Gathering of Nations
• Senior Banquet