Karen Nelson

The Indian Education Program Plan (IEPP) for Browns Valley School ISD 801 outlines strategic goals to enhance the educational outcomes for American Indian students. Key focus areas include ensuring all American Indian children are ready for school, achieving grade-level literacy for third-graders, and closing achievement gaps. The plan details specific strategies such as providing culturally-relevant resources, increasing parent and community engagement, integrating American Indian culture into the curriculum, and offering targeted academic support, with a detailed budget allocation for each goal area.

This document outlines the Browns Valley Public School District's Local Literacy Plan, designed to ensure all children read proficiently by the end of Grade 3, in response to the 2011 Minnesota Statute. The plan is built on a 'Whatever it Takes' philosophy and details processes for assessing student reading proficiency, notifying and involving parents, implementing targeted interventions, and addressing staff development needs. It emphasizes comprehensive, scientifically-based reading instruction, structured literacy focusing on the 'Big 5' areas of reading, and various intervention programs like Minnesota Reading Corps, Title 1, and ADSIS, supported by continuous assessment and professional development.

The committee discussed updates on reading and science curriculum programs and planned a three-day comic workshop for January. Cultural activities were reviewed, noting that the Culture Club is holding weekly sessions in smaller groups to ensure hands-on learning, with plans to host Saturday cultural family workshops during the winter months. Discussions on JOM funding specified that these funds should be dedicated exclusively to student support rather than parent incentives. Additionally, the committee addressed staffing needs for a para and substitute teacher position.

The committee discussed the American Indian Aid Funding Application, the acquisition of cultural storytelling kits from the Minnesota Historical Society, and a donation of literature to the school library. Updates were provided regarding JOM meeting attendance and the scheduling of grade and attendance incentives. The committee reviewed ongoing Culture Club activities and plans for family workshops, alongside staff recruitment updates and the celebration of Native American Heritage Month.

This Local Literacy Plan for Browns Valley Public Schools aims to ensure all Minnesota children read at or above grade level, supporting multilingual learners and special education students. It emphasizes evidence-based reading instruction focused on foundational skills like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, oral language, vocabulary, and comprehension. Key components include universal K-8 assessments (FastBridge), data-driven decision-making through an MTSS framework, a detailed curriculum for K-12, parental involvement, and a comprehensive professional development plan for educators focusing on structured literacy (LETRS training). The plan is committed to continuous improvement and fidelity to effective instructional practices.