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Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Programs

“Planting seeds of education in today’s generation will grow into mighty roots for future generations.” — Cankdeska Cikana Community College

Through partnerships with higher education institutions, the Office of Head Start (OHS) is continuously investing and committed to supporting the ongoing development of a highly skilled workforce. The Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start (TCU-HS) Partnership Program ensures and increases the number of qualified education staff working in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start programs within tribal nations.

TCU-HS Partnership Funded Programs

Since September 2020, the Office of Head Start (OHS) has awarded $8 million to the TCU-HS Partnership Program. Originally, $4 million dollars were awarded in 2020, and then in 2022, the TCUs received an additional $2 million dollars as supplemental funding to continue to support this grant initiative. More recently in 2023, an additional $2 million dollars were awarded to a new cohort of TCUs. With the new grants, OHS provides a total of $8 million dollars per year to increase access to both entry level credentials and higher early education degrees for staff in American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start programs.

OHS is partnering with the following higher education institutions in tribal nations:

US map showing locations of tribal colleges.

2020–2025 Cohort

  • Navajo Technical University
  • Salish Kootenai College
  • Stone Child College Corporation
  • Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College
  • White Earth Tribal and Community College
  • Cankdeska Cikana Community College

2023–2028 Cohort

  • Bay Mills Community College
  • Salish Kootenai College
  • College of Menominee Nation

Practical Program Applications

The plans proposed by the awarded institutions are making early childhood education career credentials accessible to non-traditional students across various diverse regions of the country. Plans include:

  • Providing strong, personal support for enrollees
  • Flexibility in course delivery and design
  • The ability to provide preliminary or remedial instruction
  • Assistance with tuition, books, and other costs such as transportation
  • Articulation agreements that permit transfer of credit to and from multiple colleges or universities
  • Credit for professional experience

TCU-HS Partnership Programs are specifically designed to:

“For the next generations, we will continue to educate ourselves to stay strong for our young people.” — Marianne Matt, Salish Kootenai College

  • Build and sustain early childhood education career pathways in Native American communities
  • Address the employment needs of tribal Head Start programs while being responsive to the cultures and languages of Native tribes through a “Growing Our Own” approach
  • Meet the unique needs of individual Native communities and supporting staff in AIAN programs to acquire the competencies that ensure children’s academic development while also supporting cultural identity
  • Build TCUs’ capacity to create or enhance innovative approaches to increase access to early childhood education degrees in tribal nations

Resources

Press Releases and Announcements

Contact Information

To learn more about TCU-HS Partnership Programs, contact:

Jennifer Amaya-Thompson
Federal Project Officer 
Administration for Children and Families | Office of Head Start 
Email: Jennifer.amaya-thompson@acf.hhs.gov

Amanda B. Bryans
Senior Branch Chief
Education and Research to Practice Supervisor | Office of Head Start 
Email: amanda.bryans@acf.hhs.gov

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