The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides unique opportunities for states, districts, schools and tribes to work together to strengthen education for Native students throughout the country. Meaningful consultation will assist in building relationships and strengthening support systems to bridge the gap between educators and tribes so that we may increase academic success and cultural understanding for Minnesota’s American Indian students from pre-K through 12th grade.

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) assists in creating a clear path and framework for consultancy between tribes and school districts or schools as mandated by law. MDE staff are available to support local agencies as they navigate the process to increase opportunities for successful consultation and engagement with stakeholders. Please reference the August 2020 ESSA Tribal Consultation Guidance document that provides tribes, districts and schools the high level educational strategies necessary to build trusting, reciprocal, and long-lasting relationships with the Native communities in their respective regions on behalf of all American Indian learners.

It is important to note that ESSA Tribal consultation is not the same as the Governor’s Executive Order 19-24, which is government-to-government consultation. These two types of consultation are different, and ESSA consultation specifically supports American Indian students in your schools and districts.

Background

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the latest reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Previously known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), this reauthorization gives more freedom to states to implement standards and accountability. For additional information on ESSA, please visit the MDE website.

The Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) allows educational stakeholders to enter a new era of education that requires timely and meaningful consultation. Meaningful tribal consultation, both in process and product, is the foundation that will best support Native students. A key component in working with tribal representatives and supporting Native youth is trust. As such, fostering and developing a mutually respectful relationship with tribes will be beneficial when districts and schools approach consultation.

Resources for Successful Consultation

Minnesota’s Tribal Nations
2020-21 Minnesota Tribal Consultation Guide
Building Relationships With Tribes: A Native Process for ESSA Consultation
Meaningful Local Engagement under ESSA

SY2020-21 Consulting Districts and Schools

Anoka-Hennepin School District
Bagley Public School District
Bdote Learning Center
Bemidji Public Schools
Browns Valley Public School District
Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig
Cass Lake-Bena Public Schools
Circle of Life Academy
Cloquet Public Schools
Deer River Public School District
Detroit Lakes Independent School District
Duluth Public Schools
Fond du Lac Ojibwe School
Grand Rapids Independent School District
Mahnomen Public School District
Minisinaakwaang Leadership Academy
Minneapolis Public Schools (SSD1)
Moorhead Area Public Schools
Nay Ah Shing Schools
Naytahwaush Community Charter School
Nett Lake Public School District
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Independent School District
Onamia Public School District
Oshki Ogimaag Charter School
Osseo Area Schools
Red Lake Public School District
Redwood Area School District
Robbinsdale Area Schools
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Independent School District
Saint Paul Public Schools
St. Louis County Schools
Voyageurs Expeditionary School
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District
Waubun-Ogema-White Earth Schools