Tribal Affiliation

Tribal Affiliation: WISEdata

The Tribal Affiliation data element allows schools to collect and report tribal affiliations for Native American students who are government registered with a tribe recognized by the federal government.  This data collection can help to develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and programs to improve the educational achievements of Native American children and youth.

This data element can be collected for students whose race is reported as American Indian or Alaska Native. The tribal affiliation data element, however, is not the same as race and ethnicity data. For more information on race and ethnicity data, refer to the Race and Ethnicity data element page.

This data element is not required for public or Choice schools but is highly recommended.

USES: Tribal affiliation data can be used by school districts and DPI to develop, test, and demonstrate the effectiveness of services and programs to improve education achievements of Native American children and youth.

FAQs, Details, and Points to Note

1. Is tribal affiliation required? 

   No, this is a voluntary data collection. A student can still report their race as American Indian or Alaska Native and not be required to report their tribal affiliation.

2. Parents Refuse to Identify: If the family or student does not identify a tribal affiliation, it should not be reported.

3. Why is only one tribal affiliation allowed to be reported? 

   Although a student may identify as being more than one, DPI only wants to collect and report the tribal affiliation they are enrolled in or are a descendant of.

   Although a family may have heritage or identify as a descendant of multiple tribal nations, they can only “officially” be affiliated with one tribal community in this data collection.

4. Why is DPI collecting student tribal affiliation data from Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)? 

   To allow the state to better understand the Indigenous student population in Wisconsin schools.

   To respond to requests made by several Tribal Nations in Wisconsin with whom DPI has memoranda of understanding (MOU) that includes a commitment to sharing where that Nation’s students are being educated, how they are performing academically and behaviorally, and in turn allowing the Nation to potentially provide that student with additional assistance or support.

   To help Wisconsin LEAs better understand the Indigenous student population in their schools.

   To help Tribal Nations and LEAs located within a certain geographic area to better develop useful, pertinent, and supportive partnerships, such as formal agreements like MOUs.

   To ensure LEAs develop plans and implement educational programs that are inclusive of student needs identified by the Tribal Nation as required by some federal programs (i.e., Elementary and Secondary Education Act).

5. How does an individual or family "enroll" in a tribal community? 

   Depends on each tribal nation’s enrollment policies, traditions, and/or practices. Please have the family contact their tribal nation directly for more information.

6. What type of proof can a district be shown/look up to verify? 

   LEAs cannot require parents to provide “proof.

7. Are grants or funds connected to reporting this data in WISEdata? 

   No, this tribal affiliation data element is not currently reported by DPI to the US Department of Education. Currently there are no grants or funds connected to this data element.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Race/Ethnicity Crosswalk

Individual level collections with automated file upload/download processes will use the individual race key for submitting data to DPI. Aggregate level collections and public reporting will use the Aggregate Reporting Category.

View the crosswalk document for race/ethnicity reporting help.

See also:

Race & Ethnicity Identification Collection

Submit questions, comments, and suggestions about this page to the DPI Online Helpdesk Application.

Back