Best Practice Sites: The MOA is intended to impact the education of native students district wide at all schools, but three schools with large American Indian populations have been selected to serve as Indigenous Best Practice sites as models for replication elsewhere.

District led Best Practice sites will be defined by:

• The use of the Universal Instructional Practices Tool for coaching and continuous improvement of teachers. Based on the Standards of Effective Instruction, The Principles of Learning and the Seven Ways of Knowing, the tool will be used as part of an observation and coaching cycle that will enhance teachers’ ability to integrate cultural relevance into their instruction.
• Indigenous Best Practice Sites will hire teachers through the Interview and Select process to ensure mutual consent and facilitate the best match possible of teachers and sites or programs. Members of the American Indian community will be invited to participate on interview teams, ensuring community input into hiring decisions.Teachers at Best Practice sites will be asked to sign an agreement acknowledging the unique status of the Best Practice sites and their commitment as educators to the integration of cultural relevance and academic rigor.  Teachers will commit to attending an orientation to the Best Practice site, participate in the observation and coaching cycle, participate in indigenous language learning and to make use of indigenous language in their classroom.  Teachers will also commit to attending professional development sessions as offered through MPS Indian Education and Phillips Indian Educators.  Commitment and compliance with these requirements will allow teachers to be protected from district-wide layoff, bumping and placement of excessed teachers. 
• Regular participation in the MUID education subgroup (Phillips Indian Educators) to discuss their site’s implementation of the MOA.

Native Group and Indian Education Services:

• All Native students at Sanford have the opportunity to participate in Native group.

• • Native Group meets once a week all year long.  Groups are divided by grade level and occur during the school day.

• Activities include: Cultural arts and crafts, history, language, current events, cultural teachings, sports and  field trips.

• Native Associate Educator, Christopher Oquist
• The Indian education office at Sanford includes access to Indian education school counselor to assist with the transition to middle school as well as social/emotional and academic needs.