EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Alaska Natives face many challenges in educational performance, attainment, and opportunities. In an effort to gain an understanding from Alaska Natives' perspective, McDowell Group Inc., was asked by the First Alaskans Foundation, a non-profit organization created by the Alaska Federation of Natives, to conduct a statewide study of Native education. The four-phase project includes a series of focus groups with students, parents, elders, and employers.

The purpose of the focus group research is to help validate and more fully explain underlying attitudes about issues affecting Alaska Native education. Specifically, the research identifies key attitudes regarding the quality of education including barriers to educational success in urban and rural areas, and readiness of Alaska Native graduates for the workplace. This report contains three major sections: executive summary, findings and details, and appendices which provide a record of written exercises performed in each of the groups.

Selection of Focus Groups

Three specialized focus groups were selected to follow up on major issues identified in the other components of this overall baseline research study.

• Rural residents of Aniak were gathered to address the specific issues of rural Alaska education. The focus group represented a cross-section of the community from high school students to elders.
  
• Urban residents of Anchorage were brought together to address the specific issues of urban Alaska education and the critical needs for early success in the education system. The focus group represented Alaska Native parents with children enrolled in pre-kindergarten and elementary schools.
  
• Alaska Native executives from around the state were drawn together to specifically address the role of education in preparing Alaska Natives for the workplace. The focus group represented executives from the oil, social services, healthcare, and job placement industries, and Native corporations.

  The results of the focus group discussions are summarized below.

Teacher Quality

• Focus group participants believe more Alaska Native teachers are needed in Alaska's schools. They say Native teachers would serve as role models to Alaska Native students and relate better to Native students than non-Native teachers.
  
• They say ignorance in the school system of Native culture and village life often results in a culture gap. They wish non-Native teachers were better trained before moving to rural communities, so they understood and could embrace village life.
  
• They say students are not well prepared in basic education - reading, writing, and math.

Native Culture, Language and Curriculum Development

• Focus group participants suggest that schools incorporate Native language and culture especially in early grades.
  
• They say schools need to emphasize the basics such as math and science, and incorporate Native ways of knowing into these programs.
  
• They say schools should work to improve students' communication and basic work skills.
  
• They say schools should offer more vocational and other education options.
  
• Employers in focus groups say Alaska Native students are not adequately prepared for the realities of college life and the work place.

Resources

• Focus group participants say schools need better resources. In villages, this includes adequate counseling and education options. In cities, it means smaller class sizes and choices.
  
• They say students need better career counseling to help them make wise choices. They are concerned that students do not get good information about internship and scholarship programs available to them.
  
• They recommend that regional schools be considered as a way to expand village education, help students transition from the village, and help rural schools reach "critical mass" to compete with urban schools.
  
• They say more resources are needed to help children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. They would like Head Start and other early education programs.

Role of Parents

• Focus group participants say parents need to set high expectations for their children and help them succeed in school by becoming more involved and getting them the nutrition, sleep, and routines they need.
  
• They say parents need to be aware of how exposure to alcohol and drug use in the home affects school performance.

Role of Community

• Focus group participants say Alaska businesses should continue to expand internship programs for Alaska Native students, and mentor those who are placed in internships.
  
• They say the village community should welcome and support Alaska Native teachers returning to their village, set high expectations for students, and encourage students to stay in school.
  
• They say Anchorage and other urban communities need to welcome and support Alaska Native students who are transitioning from village to urban areas.

Return to the Issues in Alaska Native Education: Focus Group Research

Return to the McDowell Final Report

Return to Alaska Native Knowledge Network