Second Circle of Reflection: Widening the Circle

In this section, you will learn about the Second Circle where Tribal education department (TED) and local education agency (LEA) participants will evaluate the responses the state education agency (SEA) provided during the First Circle, flag additional concerns, and identify areas of potential focus for the Third Circle.

Participants: TED and LEA representatives with SEA representatives present as active listeners

Purpose of the Second Circle

Materials:

Remember to use your notes and data from the First Circle as reference

The purpose of the Second Circle is for the LEA and TED participants to review the results of the First Circle and either agree, disagree, or expand on the effectiveness of the SEA’s level of support. Once the views and information are combined, participants can start thinking about possibilities for improvement and establishing the priority level of each item and/or category, which will influence the 90-day action plans that participants develop in the Third Circle.

Let’s Get Started with the Second Circle

Review and Clarify

The facilitator and state staff will orient the participants to the Circle’s process and expectations, present the Native Education Data Pack to familiarize the participants with data about Native students in the state, and share the Resource Bank—which hosts helpful resources that coordinate with the categories. The Resource Bank can be used to support and inspire the 90-day action plans and other future initiatives, help individuals learn more, or be shared with interested parties.

Next, the facilitator will orient participants to each category and share the SEA’s responses to the Reflection Questions from the First Circle. The facilitator will then guide the LEA and TED participants through a discussion to validate, add to, or clarify the SEA’s descriptions and perceptions of effectiveness and impact for each item. The Second Circle participants can discuss the programs, practices, and initiatives they’re familiar with and potentially learn about other existing resources and programs provided by the SEA, as well as others provided by TEDs and LEAs, that were less widely known.

The notetaker will document the discussion.

Review

The Second Circle uses Reflection Questions that are organized by categories and answered (in part) using the Continuum of Support. You can review the categories and Continuum here.

“You don’t know what the perception is or what individuals need unless you’re there or you ask them.”

Jackie L. White Oklahoma State Department of Education

Action-Item Recommendations for the SEA

The Second Circle TED and LEA participants will consider all the discussions, shared information, and the students they’re representing and assign a priority level for each Reflection Question as high, medium, or low.

These priority levels let the SEA know what is important to Tribes and LEAs and will help influence the focal points for the 90-day action plans as well as the long-term goals for the Third Circle.

Example initiatives for 90-day action plans or long-term goals include:

Increase authentic and vetted curricula from the Tribes’ perspective
Encourage inclusion of Tribal speakers and culture experts in school programs
Provide students and families with tools and resources to help them understand