(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton School Board received a detailed report on the status of Native American education programs and federal funding earlier this past week from Roy Brown, the district’s Native American Education and Federal Programs Director. His presentation focused on Title VI and other grant-supported programs that aim to strengthen cultural identity and academic success amongst Native American students.
Brown highlighted multiple federal and tribal funding sources that help sustain programs across grade levels, including Title VI Native American Education grants through the U.S. Department of Education, Johnson O’Malley funding from the Tribe, and Impact Aid that aims to offset non-taxable land within reservation communities. Additional support has come through the Consolidated Grant, Perkins and CTE professional development funds, Wyoming Mental Health Grant, and donations from ExxonMobil and FC BOCES, totaling $46,000 in the last year.
A key example of the program’s recent work is the FCSD 38 High School Transition Program, designed to assist Arapahoe resident students who go on to attend Riverton high schools. The program started last year with 13 seniors, and all 13 graduated.
Looking ahead, the district plans to add a Native American cultural programming coordinator. Title VI objectives for the 25-26 school year include increasing cultural identity and awareness, attendance, graduation rates, academic achievement, and family engagement. The projected budget for 25-26 is $218,088.
Ongoing activities include cultural classroom presentations, staff trainings, hosting a drum group at Riverton’s high school graduation, Native American Heritage events, and powwows.
Brown also outlined a few upcoming community events:
- Dec. 11 – Cultural Family Night: Stew, fry bread, ornament-making, and an ugly sweater contest.
- March 28 – Community Program Update at 5:30 p.m. in the PMR: Opportunity for families to learn about grant activities and to offer input.
- March 15 – Rendezvous Powwow, 1 p.m.: Featuring world champion hood dancer Jasmine Bell, the Riverside Singers, and emcee Luke Bell.
In closing, Brown noted that the U.S. Department of Education recently announced an interagency transition, shifting administration of several federal education programs. Title VI Indian Education is expected to move under the U.S. Department of the Interior, while Title 1/II/IV, Impact Aid, and McKinney-Vento programs may shift to the U.S. Department of Labor. Funding outcomes for titles II and IV remain uncertain under the current federal administration.