The Project

RANA is excited to be working on a new grant project, Education Innovations (EDI): Comprehensive School Instruction for Paraprofessionals and Teachers.  This project is funded by the Alaska Native Education Program of the U.S. Department of Education. 

The EDI Project is designed to help raise the number of certified teachers within Alaska Native-serving communities, and to develop knowledge of standards-based school restructuring within those professional communities.

This three-year project will be funded by the Department of Education for approximately 1.5 million dollars.

The Goals

The fundamental goal is to provide quality distance education to Alaskan communities, so individuals from those communities can become certified teachers and highly-qualified paraprofessionals.  Alaska-grown teachers and aides are paramount to the well-being of rural school districts in our state.

More specifically the project intends to:

•   increase the number of teachers and paraprofessionals trained in
         comprehensive school restructuring;

•   provide practical experience and professional development courses
         that address aspects of school restructuring, standards-based
         education, and school improvement plans;

•   develop a community of professionals who are prepared to meet and
         exceed “annual yearly progress” in their Alaskan schools and
         districts as dictated by the No Child Left Behind Act.

The Partners

The project brings together partners from across Alaska.  APU’s Education Department and the RANA Distance Education Program will be working with the Alaska Native nonprofit organization Chuaghmiut and six Alaska school districts:   
   •   Bering Strait School District
   •   Chugach School District
   •   Denali Borough School District
   •   Kuspuk School District
   •   Lake and Peninsula School District
   •   Northwest Arctic Borough School District

The Opportunity

With funding, the project will support scholarships for paraprofessionals  from participating districts who want to become certified teachers, provide professional development courses for teachers wanting to know more about comprehensive school restructuring, and coordinate other training opportunities to serve the purpose of school improvement in rural Alaska.

For more information contact:

Professor Karen McCain, Project Manager, mccain@alaskapacific.edu

Dr. Roseann Leiner, Grant Coordinator, rleiner@alaskapacific.edu

Dr. Esther Beth Sullivan, RANA Director, sullivan@alaskapacific.edu