The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) has a long-standing commitment to protecting the cultural and linguistic traditions of Native American students. Towards strengthening these outcomes, they are initiating the development of the National Native Cultural Standards for Education project. To provide background support for future phases of this project, the authors have gathered information and insights from existing cultural education standards projects. In particular, the authors examined the objectives and processes contributing to successes for the Akwesasne Freedom School, The Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools, The Montana Indian Education for All program, and the Native Hawaiian Guidelines for Culturally Healthy and Responsive Learning Environments. From these case studies, as well as supplementary examples, they compiled objectives and processes commonly identified as valued and effective. Common valued objectives include understanding cultural identity; language revitalization; environmental learning; and preparedness for lifelong learning and leadership. Common effective processes include adaptable, not prescriptive standards; collaboration and sharing of resources; family and community engagement; and culturally appropriate, process, materials, and pedagogy. Drawing from these common objectives and processes, the following suggestions may be useful to the NIEA for the National Native Cultural Standards for Education project: (1) Avoid prescriptive standards keep the focus on guiding principles that can be appropriately adapted by communities and individuals; (2) Establish partnerships for support and resources; (3) Emphasize the role each community has in creating, interpreting and implementing these principles; and (4) Maintain Indian ownership at all phases of the project. A bibliography is included.