January 7, 2025
Creating environments where every learner can thrive requires collaboration between students and community members; however, educators, policymakers, and allies must be adequately equipped to build stronger, more inclusive educational systems.
Addressing challenges tied to attendance, graduation rates, and disciplinary practices is critical to fostering equitable outcomes and empowering communities for Native American students.
This Spotlight discusses
- how to address chronic absenteeism among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students,
- what high-impact practices schools can use that result in high graduation rates for Native American students, and
- how to reduce exclusionary discipline to enhance learning outcomes and equity.
Reducing Chronic Absence for American Indian and Alaska Native Students
This brief underscores the pressing need to address chronic absenteeism among AI/AN students in the United States, examining the systemic challenges these students and their families face in maintaining regular school attendance. Factors such as unwelcoming school environments, biased disciplinary practices, systemic barriers, and a lack of culturally relevant curricula are identified as significant contributors to this issue. The brief emphasizes the value of collaboration among parents, Tribal leaders, community members, educators, policymakers, and other allies to boost attendance rates for AI/AN students.
The brief offers practical recommendations for addressing these challenges, including
- investing in culturally responsive, positive learning environments;
- implementing tiered prevention strategies; and
- adopting targeted interventions to remove attendance barriers.
It highlights successful initiatives such as attendance recognition programs, inclusive graduation ceremonies that promote belonging, and partnerships with Tribal governments to address transportation and medical service gaps. Together, these strategies aim to improve school attendance and student success.
Read more about how to address chronic absenteeism.
Discipline Equity for American Indian and Alaska Native Students
This report from the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) summarizes information and recommendations about exclusionary discipline for AI/AN students. It examines the negative consequences of exclusionary discipline; shares examples of how some states address these problems of suspension, expulsion, and related low graduation rates; and presents recent statistics that reveal adverse impacts on particular racial and ethnic groups.
This report offers policymakers and district leaders specific recommendations to reduce disciplinary issues, bridge learning gaps, and improve learning outcomes among AI/AN students. Emphasizing evidence-based practices and targeted interventions, these effective strategies include
- increasing cultural responsiveness,
- reducing implicit bias,
- recognizing students’ racial and cultural assets, and
- implementing prevention and restorative justice strategies.
Read more about how to address exclusionary discipline practices.
Improving Graduation Rates and Student Outcomes
Some high schools serving large populations of Native students have achieved graduation rates that match—or even surpass—national averages for both Native students and all students.
This report highlights five Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools that succeed by implementing high-impact practices. These schools elevate academic standards and provide robust supports without compromising expectations, resulting in strong graduation outcomes and low dropout rates. By detailing how these schools achieve success, the report seeks to inspire other BIE and non-BIE schools to create environments in which students feel motivated to attend classes, supported to complete coursework, and encouraged to graduate—ultimately opening pathways to lifelong success.
Read more about the featured schools.
By considering the recommendations and insights in these resources, schools can support lasting change for Native American students.
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