The 2024 State of American Indian & Alaska Native Education in California report details the progress made and challenges that persist in K-12 and higher education systems in the eight years following the release of the previous edition.
Published in December by the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center at California State University, San Marcos, researchers found that the number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in K-12 fell 7.5 percent from 34,704 in 2015–16 to 26,108 in 2022–23 (0.45 percent of California’s total student body). “The largest decrease took place during the COVID-19 pandemic years (2020–21 and 2021–22),” the report states.
The majority of AIAN youth attended non-charter public schools in 2022–23 at 88 percent.
While the rate of chronic absence among the population grew from 21 percent in 2016–17 to 44 percent in 2021–22, the dropout rate decreased from 18 percent to 14 percent. During that period, graduation rates rose from 71 percent to 79 percent.
“The graduation rate for AIAN students has increased over the years, but they still have the highest dropout and chronic absenteeism rates,” the report notes.
Between 2015 and 2023, AIAN students scored lower than their peers on California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress math and English language arts tests. They also lost gains in both subjects between 2015 and 2019.
In 2021–22, there were 2,232 AIAN individuals employed as classified staff at K-12 schools. According to the most recent data available from 2018–19, there were 1,579 AIAN teachers employed, of which 70 percent identified as female.
The report features recommendations to advance educational outcomes for AIAN K-12 students, including:
- The development of culturally responsive curriculum that reflects the histories and contributions of AIAN communities
- Creating and implementing a holistic, comprehensive approach to improving student outcomes
- Reviewing the impact that the pandemic and other health, social, economic and political factors have on AIAN students academically
- Establishing and enhancing college readiness programs
- Investing in the education of AIAN students
- Improving reporting on race/ethnicity to ensure the most accurate count of AIAN students is possible
Also of note, more AIAN students are pursuing college (47 percent in 2015–16 versus 56 percent in 2019–20), according to the report.
The report also covers the California Indian Education for All partnership, work on the California Native American Studies Model Curriculum, Native Scholars Pathway programs and more.
