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The Ho-Chunk Nation has demonstrated its commitment to education for all by donating resources to schools throughout Wisconsin and supporting scholarship programs.

Now, the Ho-Chunk have collaborated with community members, teachers, parents and students to form its first charter school in Nekoosa. The Nįįkuusra Community School opened its doors Jan. 27th in the vacant Sacred Heart School. The school is still looking for students to apply. Open enrollment begins in February allowing more students the opportunity to join.

"The community school concept is a collaboration between community members, teachers, parents and students," said Forrest Funmaker, Ho-Chunk Nation Education Executive Director. "The Ho-Chunk Nation is always striving to find better ways to educate youth with programs focused on true Ho-Chunk Nation values such as language and culture.

Funmaker added, "We believe many Ho-Chunk students would be more successful if they had more positive role models. In Black River Falls, 26-percent of Ho-Chunk students are at-risk of not graduating. We need more teachers, support staff, coaches and parent volunteers to help the students that are falling through the cracks. We hope our new charter school will help in this area as well."

The Nation often contributes resources to schools throughout Wisconsin and supports many scholarship programs to provide educational opportunities for students. The Nation took its dedication to education a step further and came up with the idea to create a charter school. The idea was to give students better access to the Ho-Chunk language, history and culture.

"The Ho-Chunk Nation partnered with the Nekoosa School District and some of our local citizens were interested in helping kids learn more about the Ho-Chunk culture," said Jon Sprehn, principal at Nįįkuusra Community School. "The reason we chose to go the charter school route was because we have the flexibility to plan and program unique course offerings that fit outside the normal realm of what public education normally has. So students at Nįįkuusra will have the opportunity to learn the language, history and culture of the Ho-Chunk Nation."

School organizers will incorporate the Ho-Chunk lessons into the standard education curriculum required for all Wisconsin students. Students will be responsible for demonstrating learning on the same State of Wisconsin standardized test that other students take - the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE). Students will have their learning goals closely monitored and measured by MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) like other Nekoosa School students. The Ho-Chunk Nation and a state grant are helping finance the new school.

"We received a $100,000 State of Wisconsin Charter School Grant, and the Ho-Chunk Nation is sponsoring the educational staff for the school," said Sprehn. The school is designed for a family-like setting for students, with no more than 15 students to one teacher. The school will focus on a project-based curriculum so students, parents and teachers have a choice on how they learn. Students will also participate in service learning projects and share in the operation and upkeep of the school.

Students in grades 5th, 6th, and 7th will make up the school this first semester and 8th grade will be added during the next school year. There are still spots open for Nekoosa students this semester.

For more information call (715) 886-8040.