Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization - Federal Grant

Preschool Development Grant (PDG) for Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization

In 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) was awarded a one-year Preschool Development Grant (PDG) B-5 Planning Grant to complete a needs assessment and a strategic plan to improve Wisconsin’s early childhood state system. Based upon the work of this grant, DCF applied for and was awarded a three-year PDG Renewal (PDG-R) grant  to continue the activities identified in the strategic plan for the years of 2021-2023.

The focus of these grants are to improve the transition to elementary school and academic outcomes, and support reducing achievement gaps while addressing the linguistic and cultural needs of students from American Indian nations and communities in Wisconsin. The funds will be used to support startup and collaboration costs (e.g., materials, curriculum development, educator training or professional development).

The focus areas of the PDG Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization (YLTLR) grants are the following: 

• Specific and Measurable: All American Indian nations and tribal communities will have programming in place to sustain and revitalize their tribal language and cultural practices for young children and families. Programming will include transitional components as children enter K-12. Each nation will have a sustainability plan for program continuation after PDG-R ends.
• Achievable: The PDG-R timeline will allow each American Indian nation and tribal communities to effectively plan, identify resources, develop materials, implement, and evaluate their programs. This allows each tribal nation or community to start with a small pilot program and expand based on results.
• Relevant: All American Indian nations and tribal communities are seeing a decrease in numbers of first language and native speakers. Traditionally, oral story sharing has been a primary method of teaching and learning language and culture. This initiative is critical in keeping each American Indian nations’ of Wisconsin languages and cultures for future generations.
• Time-Scaled: This grant will provide the time needed by each nation to develop a stable foundation for effective and sustainable programming and evaluation.
• Inclusive and Equitable: The YLTLR honors the sovereignty of each of Wisconsin American Indian nations and tribal communities while supporting all six language families represented. Programming and resources will be accessible to family and community members, and it will create spaces for conversation/dialogue and opportunities for children and families who are not members of individual nations and communities.

Grant application materials for the 2023-2024 are no longer and those awarded grants received the following information via Notification of Federal Grant Subaward's.

Grant Close-Out Activities (2023-2024)

1. All grant activities and funds must be completed by September 30, 2024
2. All final claims (Program Fiscal Reports) must be submitted by November 1, 2024
   1. Send final claims to Ryan Egan: ryan.egan@dpi.wi.gov   
3. End of Year Report must be submitted by November, 1, 2024
   1. Sent report to David J. O’Connor: david.oconnor@dpi.wi.gov
   2. Note: For best results, download the report rather than fill it out in a web browser. Not all features will work as intended when opened in a web browser.

"NEW” Statewide YLTLR Grant Resource: Circles of Learning Shared Book Package

The Circles of Learning Shared Book Package identifies 12 children’s books that have been authored and or illustrated by Indigenous individuals with supportive resources to elevate Indigenous perspectives and provide a foundation for continued curiosity and ongoing learning. Each book embeds elements of the individual's languages, cultures and connections to their communities. The supportive resources were created in partnership with the Indian Community School, the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Schools, and Dr. Rosa Yekuhsiyo King, Oneida Nation.

Learn more about and access this resource by reading Wisconsin Preschool Development Grant Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization Grant Circles of Learning Shared Book Package-Introduction. The document provides an overview of the project's purpose, listing of books and associated resources, and suggested ideas for use across a variety of environments.

Here is a link to End of Year Report that will need to be submitted by November 1, 2024 for those awarded the Preschool Development Grant (PDG) for Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization - Federal Grants:

• End of Year Report: PDG Young Learners Tribal Language Revitalization (PDF)