Funding Support for Early College High Schools for Native Youth

In 2002, Antioch University Seattle received a $3.3 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop eight schools in Washington. The W.K Kellogg Foundation provided an additional $1,175,000 for community engagement work between tribes and schools. In December 2004, Antioch received an additional $6.1 million grant to develop early colleges across the country. These foundations, along with The Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation, are partners in the national early college initiative. In August 2005, Antioch received a $330,000 grant from Lumina Foundation for Education to serve adults at three early college sites.

Community Connections

Community involvement is fundamental to the success of early colleges for Native youth. Through the generosity of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Antioch promotes new ties among tribes and schools. Tribal curriculum consultants work with schools and colleges to diversify course content. Family and community members approve the curriculum and admissions processes. There are also dinners, focus groups, school meetings and one-on-one contacts to link communities and schools.

Serving Adults at Early Colleges for Native Youth

As a result of adult community member requests, three early colleges received grants to integrate adults into early college classes. Adults and adolescents learn together in what appears to be the nation's first model of higher education access at secondary school sites. The three schools piloting the intergenerational effort are Klamath River Early College of the Redwoods, La Conner School District and Shelton High School. An additional award was made to Northwest Indian College to develop eight culturally relevant syllabi to serve as templates at the school sites. The combined adolescent and adult classes began in the summer of 2006. The intergenerational project is funded by Lumina Foundation for Education.