Salt River Schools was recently awarded a grant with significant funding through the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Read the full story about the grant and its goals below.
All Salt River Schools students, staff, families, and Community members are invited to help us with the planning of the Raising Indigenous Success in Education (RISE) - there are many things we'd like to do with the funding and need your help to decide!
Click here to view the ADE Office of Indian Education's presentation of the RISE Grant to Salt River Schools staff in July.
The event is Thursday, Oct. 19, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Education Board Room
(4836 N. Center Street - look for the circular structure to the east of the Admin Building). A light dinner will be served to the first 50 people. Bring the kids; we'll have arts and crafts activities available. Questions? Call 480-362-2500.
Did you miss our event? No worries! Scroll below to take our survey and provide your important perspective! You can also click here to view the presentation that was shared on 10/19. Give us a call if you have any other questions.
Take our survey and let us know how we should spend this grant!
Salt River Schools receives $300K RISE Grant
College visits, free books for Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community members, and collaborations with K-12 schools that have implemented successful Native American-focused curriculum are just some of the ways Salt River Schools plans to use funds from a new $300,000 grant awarded by the Arizona Department of Education
Salt River Schools is expected to utilize $100,000 every year for three years via the Raising Indigenous Success in Education (RISE) Grant. Of the $300,000 total, $75,000 will come from matching funds. Year one began on July 1. A committee established to guide decision making, spending, and data collection will seek participation and input from school and Community families.
The ADE’s Office of Indian Education celebrated the grant and presented Salt River Schools with an official check just before school started in July.
“We are extremely excited to see how this funding will impact students and staff in your district through more culturally relevant resources, support for language and culture initiatives, and academically preparing students to graduate from high school to pursue post-secondary opportunities, whether that be in college, career or community leadership,” said Lynnann Yazzie, the ADE OIE Deputy Associate Superintendent, at July’s celebration.
Now more than ever, Yazzie continued, the importance of educating Indigenous youth through the interweaving of schooling and traditional ways of knowing and being is essential to the future of tribal nations.
Superintendent/Director of Education Dr. Melody Herne said the grant’s budget was built based on the current needs of Salt River Schools. Those needs include:
- Education staff training on cultural sensitivity, O’odham and Piipaash cultures and languages, and other culture-specific areas.
- Costs associated with college/career readiness trainings and curriculum development.
- Student travel costs to visit colleges and participate in other higher education opportunities.
- Staff and Community costs to travel to visit Native American schools with exemplary curricula.
- Book distribution for all SRPMIC member households to encourage literacy development.
- Costs associated with Community meetings.
The most exciting aspect of this grant, according to Chris McIntier, Salt River Schools Grants and Special Projects Administrator, is the importance of Community member input.
“We hope to have a wide range of Community members provide input related to what they would like to see Salt River Schools be able to provide to their families through this grant,” McIntier said. “This award is based on Community input. Salt River Schools values this input.”
The first RISE Grant Community input meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 19, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Education Board Room (4836 N. Center Street - look for the circular structure to the east of the Admin Building). A light dinner will be served. Bring the kids; we'll have arts and crafts activities available. Questions? Call 480-362-2500.
Salt River Schools is the recipient of the Raising Indigenous Success in Education (RISE) Grant from the Arizona Department of Education, which provides $300,000 over three years. The ADE Office of Indian Education presented Salt River Schools with a $100,000 to be spent in the first year at a staff welcome event in July. (Photo courtesy of Salt River Schools)