The purpose of this project is to develop Alaska Native Language Arts Standards for kindergarten through 3rd grade for adoption by the Alaska State Board of Education. The Alaska Native Language Arts Standards will help further support the development of Alaska Native language use in schools and language programs across Alaska.

There is currently no clear or consistent standard that articulates what it means to read at grade level for kindergarten through 3rd grade in the official Alaska Native languages. Without this there is no way to efficiently communicate to policy makers how students are performing in the subject of Alaska Native Language Reading. The law allows for reading instruction to be conducted in and through Alaska Native languages but without these type of standards it is cumbersome for families, students, and districts to show that their students are on track for learning. This standards work seeks to address this obstacle by providing a means for the Department of Education and Early Development and school districts to communicate learning expectations through theses Alaska Native Language Arts Reading Standards. There is a clear statewide policy directive that all students should be able to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. These developed standards will provide a critical support for instruction of Alaska Native languages because the standards will make it clear that reading in Alaska Native language is a valid for demonstrating 3rd grade reading proficiency.