Youth Development Program

Colville Confederated Tribes K-12 Youth Development Program was designed "To improve attendance & promote positive lifestyles among Native American school age students by improving educational and extracurricular activities to provide a higher probability of generational success".

Vision Statement
“To work in cooperation with local communities who serve K-12 Native American Youth. To support attendance, behavior, & academic success, while preserving our culture, tradition, & reservation, in providing healthy activities for future generations.”

Policy Statement
It is the position of the Colville Confederated Tribes K-12 Youth Development Program that students must attend school on a regular & timely basis to maximize educational opportunities offered by academic facilities located on or near the Colville Indian Reservation. Recognizing that this can be achieved successfully through combined efforts with families & schools, the CCT K-12 Youth Development Program will make efforts to intervene to improve student attendance, behavior & academics thereby creating more opportunities for student success. (We serve students who are CCT members, members of other tribes, and descendants– JOM/Title VI.)

Referrals to CCT Youth Development Program
Referrals are accepted from school personnel, parents/guardians, community members, tribal programs, Juvenile Services Dept., and other youth service providers.

Youth Development Specialists (Mentor)
Our focus is to provide educational support to all K-12 Native American Students to ensure their academic success. We assist with one-on-one meetings to establish barriers and create goals to work toward. We partner with before and after school tutoring programs to encourage additional support when necessary and available. And connecting the student and family with additional outside resources to encourage the best outcome possible.

Youth Education Advocates (Attendance) 
Our goal is to reduce the number of Native American Students put on an “Order-to-Attend” by county courts. We stay in close contact with local schools and counselors to monitor student attendance. Each attendance advocate intervenes when a students absence starts to become habitual and problematic. We are familiar with the process schools and courts follow when a student is on referral and are available to assist and support the student and family.

Interlocking Cooperative Agreements
Cooperative Agreements (RCW 39.34) with state school districts are entered into by the Colville Tribal Business Council in writing.

  • Omak School District

  • Paschal Sherman Indian School

  • Okanogan School District

  • Nespelem School District

  • Grand Coulee School District

  • Keller School District

  • Inchelium School District

  • Wilbur School District

  • Columbia School District

School Attendance
According to Attendance Ordinance Colville Tribal Code 5-3-3 & Washington State BECCA Laws all students between ages of 6-18 are required to attend school regularly. School attendance is the responsibility of the student & the parent.

Reminder on BECCA Laws
Petitions to Truancy Court may be made when a student has 5 Unexcused absences in a calendar month and/or 10 Unexcused absences in a year. Excessive excused absences are monitored by schools as well.

Tips to avoid truancy issues….
Excuse ALL absences (including tardies) regularly with a note or a phone call.
Pre-arrange absences
Attend Parent Teacher Conferences
Aim for 95%-100% School Attendance
Communicate often with your school office

  • Learn attendance policy & procedures

  • Schedule yourself a conference as needed

  • Use Skyward to monitor (if available)

  • Call on Ed. Support Advocates as needed

State Senate Bill-5433

Effective July 24, 2015

The legislature recognizes the need to  reaffirm the state's commitment to educating the citizens of our state, particularly the youth who are our future leaders, about tribal history, culture, treaty rights, contemporary tribal and state government institutions and relations and the contribution of Indian nations to the state of Washington. The legislature recognizes that this goal has yet to be achieved in most of our state's schools and districts. Accordingly, the legislature finds that merely encouraging education regarding Washington's tribal history, culture, and government is not sufficient, and hereby declares its intent that such education be mandatory in Washington's common schools. Beginning the effective date of this section, when a school district board of directors reviews or adopts its social studies curriculum, it shall incorporate curricula about the history, culture, and government of the nearest federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes, so that students learn about the unique heritage and experience of their closest neighbors. 

 

 

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