PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT Neely Tsoodle
PR Manager
P.O. Box 580
Okmulgee, OK 74447
(918) 758-6599
NTsoodle@muscogeenation.com
Muscogee (Creek) Nation to host Superintendent’s Summit/ Education Town Hall
OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Education will host a Superintendent’s Summit/Education Town Hall on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Mvskoke Dome on the Claude Cox Omniplex in Okmulgee, Okla.
The summit will bring together superintendents, Indian education coordinators, federal program directors and other interested stakeholders to discuss the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its implementation and influence on public education in Oklahoma.
Signed into law in December 2015, ESSA replaces the previous federal education policy known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), as the law governing K-12 education in the United States. ESSA focuses on the distinct goal of fully preparing all students for success in college and careers. The summit will also provide an opportunity for tribal leaders, state and federal agencies and LEAs to work together on behalf of Native students and practice open government through transparency, effective communication and interaction to strengthen the quality of our instructional programs.
The summit is a follow-up event to the ESSA Tribal Nations and Public School Collaborative Engagement Workshop held on April 5, 2017 at the River Spirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa, Okla. Over 350 educators and leaders attended the ESSA Workshop from 120 Oklahoma public school districts, 22 tribal nations and included officials from the U.S. Department of Education, Oklahoma State Department of Education, National Indian Education Association, Bureau of Indian Education, National Johnson O’Malley Association and the National Council of Impacted Schools (Impact Aid).
This event will provide a platform to review and discuss the recent tribal consultation process in Oklahoma and offer attendees the opportunity to collaborate and share experiences and strategies to address ESSA provisions and requirements affecting public schools and tribal nations. More than 130,000 American Indian students are in the Oklahoma public schools – the highest number in the United States. It is our obligation and commitment to advance and strengthen educational opportunities for our students that will lead to social and academic success. Moreover, we understand the potential impact that tribal involvement can make in public education. Last year alone, Oklahoma’s 33 tribes with state gaming compacts contributed over $132 million to the state budget, with over $112 million going to the Education Reform Revolving Fund. MCN acknowledges the need to make tribal consultations a priority and commits to providing valuable and constructive efforts in order to build sustainable, collaborative relationships and strengthen education support systems in Oklahoma.
We hope you can join us as we learn more about ESSA and unite to discuss, collaborate and provide opportunities for tribal leaders and LEAs to work together on behalf of American Indian and Alaska Native students.
