Department of Education
58620 Sink Rd., P.O. Box 180, Dowagiac, MI 49047
(269)782-0887 or toll-free at 1-888-330-1234
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K-12 Programs
K-12 Programs Staff
| Education Coordinator: |
Marie Willis |
| Teacher Consultant: |
Sue Yeager |
| Education Associates: |
Traci Henslee |
| |
Penny Brant |
The K-12 Programs provide academic enrichment programs and resources for all Native American students in the 10 county service area who are eligible for the Johnson O'Malley and/ or Title VII federal programs. In order for a student to be eligible for programs for the current academic year, parents/guardians of the student must complete the 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services.
What is the Johnson O'Malley Program?
The Johnson O'Malley (JOM) program, funded by the Bureau of Indian Education, is designed to meet the specialized and unique educational needs of eligible Native American students attending public schools. The JOM program run by the Pokagon Band Department of Education provides academic and cultural services for Native American children who live in the Pokagon Band's 10 county service and attend public school. JOM students must be members of federally recognized tribes or at least ¼ Indian blood quantum (documented) descendant of a federally recognized tribe. The Pokagon Band's 10-county service area includes the following counties:
Michigan counties
Allegan
Berrien
Cass
Van Buren |
Indiana counties
Elkhart
Kosciusko
LaPaorte
Marshall
Starke
St. Joseph |
What is the Title VII program?
The federal Title VII program, administered by the Office of Indian Education of the Department of Education is designed to meet the unique and culturally related academic needs of American Indian, and Alaskan Native students so that these students can achieve state academic standards. The Title VII program run by the Pokagon Band Department of Education provides academic and cultural services for Native American children who live in the Pokagon Band's 10 county service and attend districts which contain at least 10 eligible Native students in that district. In order for the student to be Title VII eligible, the student must be one of the following:
• A member of a federal or state recognized tribe
• A descendent in the first or second degree (parent or grandparent) of a federal or state recognized tribe
• Considered by the Secretary of the Interior to be an Indian for any purpose
• Eskimo or Aleut or other Alaska Native
• A member of an organized Indian group that received a grant under the Indian Education Act of 1988 as it was in effect October 19, 1994.
The school districts determined as Title VII school districts for the 2007-2008 school year are:
Michigan School Districts
Bangor
Berrien Springs
Buchanan
Coloma
Decatur
Dowagiac
Hartford
Niles
St. Joseph
Watervliet |
Indiana School Districts
Elkhart Community Schools
Mishawaka City Schools
Penn Harris Madison
South Bend Community Schools |
The school districts determined as Title VII school districts for the 2007-2008 school year are:
Michigan School Districts
Bangor
Berrien Springs
Buchanan
Decatur
Dowagiac
Hartford
Niles
St. Joseph
Watervliet |
Indiana School Districts
Elkhart Community Schools
Mishawaka City Schools
Penn Harris Madison
South Bend Community Schools |
K-12 Services
Backpacks and School Supplies
Educational Support Reimbursement Service
High School Senior Success Service
One-to-One Tutoring
Academic Enrichment Labs
Pokagon Summer Youth Culture Camps
Summer School
Backpacks and School Supplies
Program Description: Backpacks and school supplies are given at the beginning of the school year to those children in grades Pre-K-12 th grade who are eligible for the Johnson O'Malley and or Title VII federal programs.
Eligibility : In order for a student to be eligible for programs for the current academic year, parents/guardians of the student must complete the 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services. At the submission of the application to the Pokagon Department of Education, parents/guardians must submit proof of the student's eligibility for JOM/ and or Title VII by including a copy of student's or student's grandparent/parent's verification of tribal membership.
Procedure for Program : Parents/guardians of the student must complete the 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services which can be obtained online, at the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac, the Pokagon Band satellite office in Mishawaka , Indiana . Parents/guardians can also request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
Educational Support Reimbursement Service
Program Description: Parents of eligible JOM students can be reimbursed up to $50 per student-one time per school year-for expenses which are required for the students to participate in school.
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Expenses which can be reimbursed:
• School supplies (paper, pencils, etc)
• Shop supplies (wood, tools, etc)
• Instrumental l rental (band or music)
• Home- Ec fees (sewing materials, etc)
• Lab fees (science, math, etc)
• Physical education clothing (gym uniform, gym shoes)
• Cultural supplies/ materials
• Extra-curricular supplies (Native American club, drama, etc)
• Sports activites (fees, gym shoes, etc)
• Summer academic fees (school supplies)
• Science Environmental projects (materials, supplies, etc)
• Other courses ( vo -tech fees, community college fees, etc) |
Expenses which cannot be reimbursed:
• Graduation announcements
• Class rings
• Letter jackets
• Personal clothing
• Class pictures
• Class yearbooks
• Livestock purchased for school projects |
Eligibility: JOM students must be members of federally recognized tribes or at least ¼ Indian blood quantum (documented) descendant of a federally recognized tribe. Students must have a completed and approved 2007 /2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services on file with the Pokagon Department of Education.
Procedure for reimbursement: Parents/guardians must complete the Educational Support Reimbursement Form and attach the original receipt for supplies to be reimbursed. The Educational Support Reimbursement Form can be obtained at the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac, and at the Pokagon Band satellite office in Mishawaka , Indiana . Parents/guardians can also request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
High School Senior Success Service
Program Description: Parents of eligible JOM high school juniors and seniors can be reimbursed for certain graduation supplies and pre-college services.
Expenses which can be reimbursed:
• College entrance test fees (ACT/SAT ) ( One test fee per student will be reimbursed.)
• College application fee (up to $100) Note: the check is made out to the college but is sent to the student to include with the application)
• Graduation gown
• Other courses ( vo -tech fees, college fees) for high school students who dual enroll |
Expenses which can not be reimbursed:
• Graduation announcements
• Class rings
• Letter jackets
• Personal clothing
• Class pictures
• Class yearbooks |
Eligibility: JOM students must be members of federally recognized tribes or at least ¼ Indian blood quantum (documented) descendant of a federally recognized tribe. Students must have a completed and approved 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services on file with the Pokagon Department of Education.
Procedure for reimbursement: Parents/guardians must complete the High School Senior Success Service Form and attach the original receipt for supplies to be reimbursed. The High School Senior Success Service Form can be obtained at the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac, and at the Pokagon Band satellite office in Mishawaka , Indiana . Parents/guardians can also request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
One-to-One Tutoring
Program Description: One-to-one tutoring is available for eligible students during the 2007/2008 school year. Students receiving a C- or below in a core subject are given first priority for tutoring services.
Eligibility: Students must be attending a public school in the 10 county service area and eligible for JOM/ or Title VII services to receive tutoring services. Students must have a completed and approved 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services on file with the Pokagon Department of Education.
Procedure for requesting tutoring services:
• Parents/guardians must complete a “Request for Tutoring Services” form and return completed form to the Department of Education The “Request for Tutoring Services” can be obtained at the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac, and at the Pokagon Band satellite office in Mishawaka , Indiana . Parents/guardians can also request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
• After receiving the tutoring request, a Department of Education staff member will contact the parent/guardian to arrange a time for assessment of student's needs and skills.
• After the assessment, the parent/guardian will be notified of the student's tutoring schedule. The parent/guardian will be asked to sign the tutoring policies at this time.
Academic Enrichment Labs
Program Description : The academic enrichment labs provide students with homework assistance and the opportunity to participate in culturally based academic activities during the academic year.
The labs are as follows:
| Dowagiac Enrichment Labs |
Days: Mondays / 3:15-5:15pm
Location: Pokagon Department of Education
Note: Transportation is available from the Dowagiac public schools
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| Hartford Enrichment Lab |
Days: Wednesday / 3:15-4:15pm
Location: Red Arrow Elementary School
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| Notre Dame Enrichment Lab |
Days: Wednesdays / 5:45-7:30pm
Location: LaFortune Center , University of Notre Dame
Note: The Notre Dame lab runs during Notre Dame's academic year and does not run on the last Wednesday of the month
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| Wayland Enrichment Lab |
To be announced
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Eligibility: Students must be attending a public school in the 10 county service area and eligible for JOM/ or Title VII services to participate in the academic enrichment labs .. Students must have a completed and approved 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services on file with the Pokagon Department of Education.
Procedure for Program:
1) Parents /guardians must complete a “Academic Enrichment Lab” form and return completed form to the Department of Education The “Academic Enrichment Lab” form can be obtained at the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac, and at the Pokagon Band satellite office in Mishawaka , Indiana . Parents/guardians can also request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
2) After receiving the “Academic Enrichment Lab” form, a Department of Education staff member will contact the parent/guardian to arrange the starting date of the student's participation in the program. Also, transportation arrangements will be made upon request from Dowagiac schools. From then on, the parent/guardian will be made aware of any change in the enrichment labs schedule due to holidays, school closing, Department of Education closings, etc ..
Pokagon Summer Youth Culture Camps
Program Description: The Pokagon Band Summer Youth Camp will be in its 13 th summer in 2008. The camp provides Native Youth in grades 2 through 12 with the opportunity to participate in Potawatomi teachings, culture and language workshops and to enjoy outdoor activities such as lacrosse, hiking and swimming. Summer 2008 will be the first summer for the camp to be held on the Rodgers' Lake property. The dates for the camp are:
June 15-19 Entering Grades 7-12 in 2008-2009 academic year
June 19-21 Entering Grades 2-6 in 2008-2009 academic year
Eligibility : Students must be attending a public school in the 10 county service area and eligible for JOM/ or Title VII services to attend the summer culture camp Students must have a completed and approved 2007/2008 Application for PRE/K-12 Services on file with the Pokagon Department of Education.
Procedure for Program: Parents/guardians must complete a “Pokagon Summer Camp Application” form and return completed form to the Department of Education The Pokagon Summer Camp Application” form can be obtained by contacting the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac. Parents/guardians will also be able to request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
Applications will be due back into the Department of Education by April 15th.
Summer School
Program Description: The Pokagon Band Summer school program will provide children entering grades K- 6 with culturally based academic during the summer. This program will run at the Pokagon Head Start building on the Rodgers' Lake Property in Dowagiac on Mondays-Thursdays, 9am-2:30 pm for five weeks during the summer. The dates of the program are:
June 30-July 2 (No class on the Thursday)
July 7-10
July 14-17
July 21-24
July 28-31
Limited transportation to and from the program will be provided from areas near Dowagiac
Eligibility : The program is for students entering the K-6 th grades in the 2008/2009 academic year who are eligible for JOM/ or Title VII services. Students must have a completed and approved 2008/2009 Application for PRE/K-12 Services on file with the Pokagon Department of Education.
Procedure for requesting services: Parents/guardians must complete a “Pokagon Summer School Application” form and return completed form to the Department of Education by April 15, 2008. The form is available at the Pokagon Department of Education in Dowagiac. Parents/guardians will also be able to request the application to be sent by mail or fax.
Resources for K-12 grade Pokagon Band members outside the 10 County Service Areas
All Pokagon Band members in grades K-12 outside of the 10 county service area are eligible for the following programs:
| Backpacks and School Supplies |
(Pre-K-12)
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| Educational Support Reimbursement Service |
(Pre K-12)
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| Senior Success |
(11 th & 12 th )
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| Native Nations Youth Council |
(7 th -12 th )
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| Pokagon Band Summer Youth Camps |
(2-12)
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(See descriptions of the programs above)
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