Antioch University Seattle | Center for Native Education

National Expansion Underway

CNE Locations - Click to Enlarge In 2002, Indian people designed the main components of Early Colleges for Native Youth (ECNY). While most Gates-funded early colleges are on college campuses, those serving Native youth are located in local communities to ensure postsecondary access and community cohesion. Some high schools convert to the ECNY model while others are charter or tribal schools founded on the early college mission.

To date, eight schools have opened: seven in Washington and one in California. Two are under development in Oregon and one in Alaska. By 2008, 18 sites will serve Native students across the nation. New Path programs have been added to three schools.

The Center for Native Education (CNE) at Antioch Seattle coordinates ECNY based on its successful collaboration with tribes and Antioch’s historic commitment to higher education access. The CNE identifies and funds the sites and provides ongoing technical assistance.

Features of Early College and New Path Sites

The mission of ECNY is to merge culture, high school and college to create paths of academic success for Native students. The mission of New Path is to support adolescents and adults learning together. The goal of both programs is to transform high school and postsecondary Indian education in a single generation. The CNE awards grants and provides technical assistance to develop Early College and New Path sites.

Here’s how the CNE structures the schools to ensure success:

A theory of educational change grounded in Native community design and delivery
A three-step, proposal process for CNE and grantee match
Funding awards of $325,000 to $525,000 per site divided over four years
Shared governance among tribe, urban Indian agency, college, school or district
Engagement of family and community funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation
A small, high school environment of up to 400 students
Culturally relevant curriculum
Academic support and advising for each student
College preparatory classes offered during 9th and 10th grades, which, at some sites, are open to adults

Half college preparatory and half college courses offered during 11th grade, which also may serve adults
All college courses offered during 12th grade, which may include adults as well
Outreach and integration of middle-level and adult students
Supportive district, postsecondary, state and tribal policy infrastructures
Resources for long-term viability

The 11 current early college grantees are listed here:

Early College High Schools	Start Date	Tribal Partners & Tribal Size	College Partners	Student Demographics
1. Ferndale EC Ferndale, WA.	Feb. 2004	Lummi Nation 3,700 tribal members	Whatcom Community College Northwest Indian College	Began with 125 students in grades 9-12; 38% Native
2. Medicine Wheel Academy Spokane, WA	Jan. 2004	18 tribes 600 urban Native students in the district	Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC)	Began with 80 students in grades 9-10; 100% Native.
3. Tulalip Heritage EC Marysville, WA.	June 2004	Tulalip Tribes 3,400 tribal members	Everett Community College Northwest Indian College	Began with 55 students in grades 9-12; 100% Native.
4. Suquamish EC Prep Suquamish, WA	Jan. 2005	Suquamish Tribe 670 tribal members	Olympic College	Began with 29 students in grades 9-12; 100% Native.
5. Wellpinit EC Wellpinit, WA	Oct. 2004	Spokane Tribe 2,100 tribal members	SFCC’s Institute for Extended Learning	Began with 30 students in grades 9-12; 97% Native.
6. Klamath River EC* Klamath, CA	Sept. 2005	Yurok Tribe 5,000 members	College of the Redwoods	Began with 30 students in grades 9-12; 100% Native.
7. Shelton EC * Shelton, WA.	Sept. 2005	Skokomish Tribe of 800 Squaxin Is. Tribe of 650	Olympic College	Began with 200 students in grades 9-12; 60% Native.
8.La Conner EC* La Conner, WA	Sept. 2005	Swinomish Tribe/ 800 tribal members	Skagit Valley College	Began with 35 students in grades 6-12; 30% Native.