Mel Sheldon: Tulalip Tribes aim to improve education for youth

Next month, after ten years of planning, we will open the Tulalip Early Learning Academy (TELA) to serve children from birth to five years of age.

Years ago we identified the critical need for a strong early education program. Research shows that children in the earliest stages of development benefit from quality (take out education) interventions that can have positive impacts for individuals over a lifetime. These positive outcomes extend to the larger society and make our communities stronger.

Tulalip staff has worked diligently to combine a few existing programs, including our childcare, Head Start, and Montessori programs. Children will continue to be taught according to age level but the programs will share a beautiful new facility overlooking Tulalip Bay. The academy will offer an expanded learning day, year around instruction, and will be augmented with enhanced parent and family involvement and will be augmented with enhanced parent and family involvement. I'd like to thank the planning team, staff, parents and the Tulalip board of directors who all made this possible.

Another important development this year was the passage of Senate Bill 5433 which now requires public schools to include Northwest tribal history, culture, and government in the common curriculum at the elementary, middle and high school grade levels.

We believe this is an important step forward. Most Tulalip children enter the Marysville School District in the first grade and continue on through high school. The fact that they will be learning their own history, along with Marysville students, will enrich the educational experience for both groups and foster more understanding and communication between our communities.