Dream Diné Charter School
Grants Awarded
Dream Diné operates as an elementary school for Native youth with an experiential curriculum grounded in Diné (Navajo) culture, language, and history. It prioritizes bilingual proficiency in Diné and English, cultural application to community challenges, and identity-linked personal development for its students. The school employs an Indigenous knowledge-based approach and features Land-based Learning activities promoting the preservation of Indigenous knowledge, such as Living Classroom experiences, outdoor teaching, and activities connecting students to local farmlands, markets, and natural resources.
Dream Diné Charter School is a small state-chartered elementary school in Shiprock, NM serving 25 students in grades K-5. Our school was founded in 2014 in response to a need to better serve Native American students through culturally relevant education that responds to community interests, and that reflects community strengths and values. Active and ongoing community conversations and collaborations are a core component of program and objective design. Prior to establishment, planning team members held several community meetings and worked closely with the Shiprock Chapter of the Navajo Nation to discuss school options. Dream Diné staff facilitated focus groups to provide a platform for community members to discuss options, share ideas, and facilitate a plan. Dream Diné’s mission and curricular focus were born out of this community assessment. Dream Diné continues to explore and implement community-based curriculum activities and projects which support the growth and rebuilding of our locality. Annual assessments around school performance and areas for improvement go out to our parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community partners. This feedback ensures our programming stays responsive to our community’s needs.