Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal and education leaders recently visited several Hawaiian focused and immersion charter schools to observe and learn how Hawaiʻi charter schools integrate culture and language into all aspects of their curriculum.

The tribes received a step grant from the U.S. Department of Education which allows them to plan and create a charter school. Cheyenne and Arapaho Department of Education Executive Director Carrie Whitlow said, "It's a three year planning process and we will use those three years to create a charter school model that is reflective of our Cheyenne and Arapaho people, our world view, our history, cultural, our tribal values." Tribal leaders choose to visit Hawaiian immersion schools because they are at the forefront of integrating language and culture into the curriculum.

The tribal and education leaders visited Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo in Hilo, Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao in Nānākuli and Ke Kula o Samuel M. Kamakau in Kāneʻohe. They also spent time at the State Public Charter School Commission office talking to both Commissioners and staff to learn about the different aspects of running a successful school. Watch the story