Learning about the history of tribal nations and contemporary issues in an authentic, culturally competent way is important for all students. Marzano Research recently partnered with the Oregon Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education (ODE/OIE) and the Region 16 Comprehensive Center to evaluate the implementation of Oregon’s Tribal History/Shared History (THSH) initiative across the state. The state legislature enacted the initiative in 2017 and directed ODE/OIE to develop a K–12 Native American curriculum for all Oregon public schools.
“Tribal History/Shared History is an opportunity to highlight the indigenous people living on these lands since time immemorial,” said Brent Spencer, Indian Education Coordinator at ODE/OIE. “We cannot faithfully, and with integrity, discuss Oregon history without including Tribal history. Tribal History/Shared History honors equity and inclusion while teaching the students of Oregon about the nine sovereign Tribes of Oregon.”
Since 2017, more than 45 lesson plans have been developed for grades 4, 8, and 10 across multiple content areas. During the 2020/21 academic year, ODE/OIE launched the first phase of implementation in these grade levels. Additionally, Tribal History/Shared History funds have been directed to each of the nine federally recognized tribal governments in Oregon for the development of tribal place-based curriculum. Resources to support the implementation of Tribal History/Shared History are continually developed and available to all districts online.
To support this effort Marzano Research, in partnership with the Region 16 Comprehensive Center, is leading five major activities:
- Developing an evaluation plan and logic model
- Conducting interviews with ODE/OIE staff and partners
- Developing and administering a teacher survey and an administrator survey
- Developing and conducting teacher and administrator focus groups
- Generating a final report
Marzano Research is using a culturally responsive evaluation framework for this project. A key priority of this approach is engaging partners to develop cultural competency and to ensure that data collection design and activities fit the cultural context of Oregon and its people. Marzano Research is working closely with ODE/OIE in each phase of the project, combining the agency’s expertise within the Oregon context with our expertise as evaluators.
The results from this evaluation will guide ODE/OIE’s efforts to support educators in implementing Tribal History/Shared History. For example, interviews, surveys, and focus groups are helping the agency identify barriers to implementation so that they can be addressed.
In addition, Marzano Research will identify which resources and supports have aided in successful local implementation. These evaluation findings will be used to guide ODE/OIE’s decision-making as the agency weighs how to direct existing resources and supports, develop new resources and supports, and target resources and supports to educators and administrators across Oregon classrooms.
Do you have a program that would benefit from an evaluation? Learn more about Marzano Research’s Program Evaluation Services.
