While state leaders understand the value of professional development, they also need to consider the costs. Such costs are some of the most difficult to calculate. If state leaders are going to pony up for improving the instructional skills of teachers and principals, they want to know that their dollars are well-spent. The same can be said for…

American students' knowledge of Indian history and culture is woefully inadequate. Montana now requires its teachers to remedy this situation, but it has become clear that, to do so, they themselves must first be re-educated. In this article, the author shares her experience developing an online course that would help teachers meet the…

This article presents a teacher's story regarding the necessity of a laws such as Indian Education for All (IEFA). According to the law, all school personnel are expected to "gain an understanding of and appreciation for the American Indian people." It is deeply rooted in democracy and reflects so much of what the teachers believe about…

In this article, the authors describe the extraordinary perseverance, and a series of legislative efforts of Indian education advocates in implementing a bill known as Indian Education for All (IEFA). The bill established three primary objectives with regard to Indian education in the state: (1) Every Montanan, whether Indian or non-Indian, is to…