Rural Early Childhood Invites Proposals for Forum on American Indian and Alaska Native Early Learning

FEB. 3, 2005 | The National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives at Mississippi State University, known as Rural Early Childhood, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State University, invites proposals for participation in the Rural Early Childhood Forum on American Indian and Alaska Native Early Learning, July 28-29, 2005, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Cathy Grace, Ed.D., professor and director of Rural Early Childhood, and John Tippeconic, Ph.D. (Comanche), professor and director of the American Indian Leadership Program at Penn State, will chair the forum.

Proposals are invited for commissioned papers, for participation in panel discussions, and for other presentations or demonstrations. The deadline for proposals is March 15, 2005. Honoraria and support for travel and lodging will be available for selected participants.

Commissioned papers each will answer one of the following questions, which have been adapted from the American Indian and Alaska Native Education Research Agenda (U.S. Department of Education, 2001) that was developed through a nationwide consensus process in response to White House Executive Order 13096 of 1998. Authors should address the state of early childhood Indian education since development of the research agenda, any unmet research needs, and recommendations for additional research, innovations in early care and education systems, and/or public policy. The lead author of each paper will have approximately thirty minutes to deliver the paper. Following each presentation, a panel will discuss the paper, with panel chairs to be appointed by Drs. Grace and Tippeconic.

1.   How are infant and pre-school-age American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children's health and development related to rural (reservation and non-reservation) residence? Are there disparities between health and development of rural and non-rural native children? What methods are effective in promoting health and positive development among AI/AN families, particularly those in rural settings?

2.   What is the level of effectiveness for early childhood programs and activities for AI/AN children in promoting school readiness, especially in rural contexts?  How must early childhood programs be structured so that they foster the fundamental skills that children are expected to have when they enter school?

3.   To what extent do AI/AN children and their families in reservation, rural, urban, and other settings have early childhood education opportunities available to them? How can a network of tribal early childhood programs that address issues, resources, and action plans be organized, particularly within rural settings?

4.   What early childhood education programs and activities appear to promote effective use of English as a primary and/or second language? What programs and activities are effective in developing, preserving, and/or revitalizing native language and culture?

5.   How is the incidence of disabilities among infant and pre-school-age AI/AN children related to rural (reservation and non-reservation), suburban, small town, large city, etc. residence?  How can early childhood programs accommodate AI/AN children with disabilities?

6.   Considering that transitions between different early care and education settings (Head Start, preschool) and between early care and education and kindergarten are challenging for all young children and their families, what special considerations are necessary for young AI/AN children? What transition models exist in tribal, BIA, and public schools for young AI/AN children? Have any models been measured to be effective?

Commissioned papers should be 15 to 20 pages in length, A.P.A. style. The deadline for delivering the papers will be July 1, 2005. Papers will be distributed to all participants prior to the meeting.

Nicole L. Thompson, Ph.D. (Menominee/Mohican), will chair the Program Subcommittee. The subcommittee will review all proposals and submit a recommendation for the final schedule of participants to the forum chairs. Members of the Program Subcommittee are Susan C. Faircloth, Ph.D., assistant professor of educational leadership and special education, Penn State, and Kai Schafft, Ph.D., assistant professor of education policy studies and co-director of the Center on Rural Education and Communities, Penn State.

Rural Early Childhood will publish proceedings of the forum in a Rural Early Childhood Report and may publish key findings in the form of a Rural Early Childhood Brief.

Submit proposals, complete c.v.s, and contact information to:

Nicole L. Thompson, Ph.D. (Menominee/Mohican), Assistant Professor and Coordinator
American Indian and Alaska Native Initiative
National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives
Mississippi State University
P.O. Box 6013
Mississippi State, MS  39762
Nt65@colled.msstate.edu

 

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Updated 12/01/2006