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Throughout the United States, Native American K-12 students are struggling. They are at a

greater risk of dropping out of school, abusing drugs, committing suicide, and being involved in the juvenile justice system than any other racial or ethnic group. They also have high rates of

absenteeism, higher rates of suspensions and discipline referrals, and lower academic achievement in reading and math compared to white students.

It’s clear to see that we have a growing crisis of struggling Native American students, which is crucial to address. While there is no single fix, school systems can take several actions at the classroom, school, community, and policy levels to create a better educational future.

Increase Native Representation in Schools

While you might allow Native American students to put pictures of their cultural heroes on their school lockers, Native representation needs to go beyond such small gestures. Physical school

environments, from classroom design to storage solutions provided by a locker company, can help students feel seen, but meaningful change requires broader efforts. For example, as

representation builds trust and belonging, schools can recruit and retain Native teachers, teacher aides, administrators, and counselors.

They can also invite cultural knowledge keepers and tribal elders into schools as mentors and educators, and even provide leadership pathways for Native educators. These actions can help

affirm Indigenous students’ identities, combat stereotypes, and foster a sense of belonging and success.

Address Historical Trauma

The school system in the United States can’t gloss over the fact that many Native families are still feeling the impact of boarding schools and forced assimilation. Children, some even as young as three years old, were forcibly removed from their families and communities and taken to institutions by the federal government and religious organizations. Upon arrival, they

underwent cultural reprogramming.

This involved erasing their identities through cutting children’s long hair and replacing their traditional clothes with uniforms. They also changed their native names to English ones.

Children were even forbidden from speaking their Indigenous languages or practicing any spiritual or cultural traditions.

There was widespread physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and schools were overcrowded, underfunded, and unsanitary. The trauma and lasting impact have been profound. Families are

affected by intergenerational trauma, and there has been a loss of language and culture, not to mention the erosion of self-esteem and identity.

There is no quick fix for this historical trauma, but school systems can put supports in place, including providing trauma-informed teaching practices and school counselors trained in Native mental health frameworks. They can also deliver safe spaces for students to discuss history,

racism, and their identity. Finally, staff can undergo anti-racism and bias training.

Improve Access and Equity

Many Native American students are struggling in the school system for reasons not linked to

their abilities. Instead, they face systemic barriers like deep poverty, geographic isolation, a lack of resources, and health and housing problems. Understanding the most common barriers can put schools in a strong position to address them and improve access and equity:

• Reliable transportation
• Access to the internet
• Fair school funding for public schools serving Native students and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
• Nutritious meals
• Health services in schools
• Access to special education, advanced coursework, and college preparation resources

Reform the Curriculum and Teaching Practices

The current curriculum and teaching practices aren’t always serving Native American students well. Many schools present a one-sided, colonial narrative that marginalizes Indigenous history, culture, and current realities. They also focus on pre-1900 events, which have led to a lack of

understanding of diverse tribal nations.

There is a great deal of stereotyping and inaccuracies, not to mention a lack of diversity and misrepresentation. These teaching practices and curricula can have a lasting impact on Indigenous people.

They can feel alienated and unable to participate meaningfully in their schools when their social and academic needs aren’t met. They can also experience discrimination in the classroom.

When they don’t see themselves accurately reflected in the curriculum, they can feel as though college education is impossible. Schools can take many approaches to limit harm and make lasting improvements, including:

• Teaching accurate United States history, including sovereignty, treaties, and modern tribal nations
• Include native authors, artists, and scientists in their subjects
• Teach tribally-specific knowledge

Improving the schooling system for Native Americans won’t happen overnight, and it’s also not a one-step process. However, through reforming our curriculum, improving access and equity, addressing historical trauma, and increasing Native representation, we can be on the path to ensuring our Native American students feel safe, heard, and understood while receiving the

education they deserve.