The Arizona Department of Education has agreed to share more information about their Navajo students with the Navajo Department of Dine Education. It’s part of a new partnership aimed at improving communication between the school systems.
The agreement was signed on Monday, but it’s been in the works since 2013. The goal is better communication.
Charles Tack, a spokesman with Arizona Department of Education, said in the past when students on the Navajo Nation transferred between state and tribal school systems sharing information was difficult. He added that officials hope this agreement will allow teachers and administrators to work more collaboratively.
"We want to make sure that teachers have all the information that a school would need to be able to say this student may need extra help here, this student is excelling here and trying to make sure that they have that information as they move back and forth," Tack said.
Right now there are about 70 state-run schools on the Navajo Nation in Arizona and 40 schools under tribal and federal administration.
