It is hard to believe that summer break has come and gone so quickly. With the end of vacation time comes the beginning of a new school year.
As a new school year begins, we take this opportunity to remind tribal members of the many educational resources available through the Choctaw Nation.
Whether it is early childhood services or college support programs, these resources are here to help students succeed at every level.
From facilitating academic excellence reimbursement to extending grants for school supplies and offering higher education guidance, the Tribe is dedicated to supporting the educational journey of its tribal members.
Choctaw Nation’s Executive Director of Education, Amanda Johnson, shared her thoughts on the year ahead and the wide-reaching efforts of the Education Department.
“The beginning of a new school year is always filled with excitement and anticipation. The Education team is in full swing supporting Choctaw tribal members from early childhood to post-secondary education,” said Johnson. “We are proud to stand beside our Choctaw students at every stage of their education journey. With a new academic year underway, the Choctaw Nation Education team remains dedicated to empowering tribal members through education, cultural enrichment, and personalized support.”
Now is the perfect time to explore the programs to determine what your student may be eligible for.
The Head Start program provides educational, health, nutritional, social and other necessary services to promote school readiness in children aged 3-5.
The child must be 3-4 years old before September 1, with preference given to Native American and income-eligible children.
Jones Academy is a residential school for grades 1-12 in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, administered by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Students must be members of a federally recognized tribe or have proof of at least 1/4 degree of Indian blood. Applications are accepted year-round, and school begins in August and ends in May.
Johnson O’Malley (JOM)
The JOM program provides funding for supplemental programs through contracts with public schools within the Choctaw Nation service area to meet eligible students’ specialized and unique educational needs.
Participants must be Native American students within the Choctaw Nation service area, aged 3 through grade 12.
The child or parent must be a member of a federally recognized tribe, verified by a tribal membership card and a valid CDIB card.
College Freshman Year Incentive (College FYI)
College FYI closely monitors and assists Choctaw students throughout their first year at college and fosters success through graduation.
To be eligible, the student must be a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma tribal member and a first-year enrolled student at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Carl Albert State College or Eastern Oklahoma State College.
High School Student Services (HSSS)
HSSS serves students in grades 9-12, providing them with academic information promoting their education and career paths after high school.
HSSS services include school visits, student advising, parent-teacher conferences, scholarship information, student success planners, ACT prep workshops, pre-approved reimbursements and more.
The student must be a Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma tribal member, attending an accredited high school, grades 9-12, and have a signed Student Record Release on file with the Choctaw Nation HSSS program.
Chahta Himmak Pila Pehlichi (CHPP)
This program is designed to support Native American youth ages 14–24 in Battiest, Rattan and Wright City public schools by promoting school engagement and encouraging exploration of cultural identity and personal growth. It aims to build self-confidence and leadership skills while preparing students for post-secondary education and employment. Support services include after-school tutoring, counseling, mentorship, and a summer leadership training internship camp.
To be eligible, the student must live in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma service area and be between the ages of 14 and 24.
Partnership of Summer School Education (POSSE)
POSSE is a 23-day summer learning program for Kindergarten to 3rd-grade students within the Choctaw Nation’s tribal jurisdiction. It offers targeted reading and math intervention in the mornings and engaging enrichment activities like STEM, art, music, nutrition and physical education.
The free hands-on and immersive program provides daily meals, basic school supplies, a camp shirt, and take-home books. To qualify, students must need reading intervention based on the Oklahoma Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA).
The Adult Education Department assists individuals in completing their High School Equivalency Diploma.
Participants must be members of a federally recognized tribe, aged 16 and up, and provide a copy of a CDIB or tribal membership card and a copy of a current driver’s license or state-issued ID. Prospective online academy students outside the Choctaw Nation area must be Choctaw tribal members to participate in the online academy.
The Higher Education Program offers financial assistance to eligible Choctaw tribal members actively pursuing higher education at an accredited college or university. To qualify, individuals must be a CNO tribal member, actively working towards at least an associate degree, enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours, and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher in the previous semester.
The program is also open to concurrent high school students taking college courses. Program participants must complete an online application each semester and provide the required documentation to receive assistance.
Teach To Reach (T2R)
This program trains Native Americans to enter teacher education programs to become highly qualified educators.
Participants must be a member of a federally recognized tribe, accepted to a teacher education program or within one year of acceptance, and enrolled at a partner university: East Central University, Northeastern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma or the University of Oklahoma.
The Success Through Academic Recognition Program (STAR) is an incentive initiative to reward and encourage academic excellence for Choctaw members in grades 2-12. Eligible students must be enrolled in the specified grades and possess a CNO tribal membership card. Incentives are distributed at the end of each semester, including a $50 gift card for all A’s, a $25 gift card for all A’s and B’s, and an additional $25 for perfect attendance. The STAR program serves as a motivating force, recognizing and celebrating the academic achievements of Choctaw students.
The Technology Allowance program extends a one-time payment of $500 to Choctaw tribal members nationwide enrolled in accredited colleges or universities. Eligibility requirements include a CNO tribal membership, possession of a high school diploma or equivalency, completion of 12 cumulative credit hours at an accredited institution, and active enrollment in a minimum of 3 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the most recently completed semester.
The Career Development Program enables CNO tribal members to obtain industry-recognized certifications. Services offered under Career Development include career counseling, career planning, job and salary outlook, financial aid counseling, tuition assistance and more. With no deadlines, the program assists students year-round.
Career Development provides financial assistance for training, a comprehensive array of career guidance services, workforce skills development, and academic skills enhancement. Participants must be CNO tribal members pursuing an industry-recognized credential, certification or licensure and not enrolled in high school unless participating in a Career Tech concurrent incentive.
The College Clothing Allowance is a one-time financial assistance program offered to Choctaw tribal members nationwide who are currently enrolled in accredited colleges or universities. Eligibility criteria include being a CNO tribal member with a high school diploma or equivalency, having completed a minimum of 12 cumulative credit hours at an accredited institution, maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the most recently completed semester, and being actively enrolled in a minimum of three credit hours for the current semester.
Vocational Development assists Native Americans who reside within the CNO service area in obtaining full-time educational training at a program-approved college, training institute or career tech. Participants must be at least 1/8 Native American, have a CDIB showing the degree of Native American blood, and possess a high school diploma or GED.
Choctaw Nation programs empower and serve students across the United States, epitomizing the Choctaw Nation’s commitment to educational success.
Check out all the applications for each program on the Chahta Achvffa Member Portal.