Contact Us

Lauren Nabahe

Paiute-Shoshone, Navajo and Mono
Native American Education Program Coordinator

LWSD PO Box 97039
Redmond, WA 98073

Email:

[email protected]

Phone Number

(425) 900-7394

Website

Serving Native Students in BSD, LWSD & NSD


The Eastside Native American Education Program is a federally-funded program that assists Native American, Alaskan Native and American Indian students in the Lake Washington, Bellevue and Northshore School districts in grades K-12. Since the initiation of the Indian Education Act of 1972, the federal government has assisted local school districts in funding educational programs for all Native American, American Indian and Alaskan Native children. These programs are intended to provide children with programs that not only offer them the opportunity to succeed academically but to enrich their cultural lives as well.

Program Administrator Lauren Nabahe and an open committee of parents steers the program content and determines the best available talents and resources to implement the program’s activities.

To assist all Native students, provided services include:

  • Once a week after-school activities
  • Homework support
  • Mentoring
  • Coordination of home and school needs
  • Student advocacy
  • Cultural events
  • MSP / HSPE preparatory classes
  • Microsoft Job Shadow

The program offers opportunities for Native Students and families to create a community through activities the parent committee organizes during the school year. The program’s website provides more detailed information on the current events and activities.

Funding for the Program
This program relies upon a grant from the federal government that is based upon the number of Native children within the educational entity applying for the grant. The Eastside Native American Education Program is a consortium of the Lake Washington, Bellevue and Northshore School districts. The number of children served in the program determines the amount of grant money the program collects.

Federal Requirements and Assessment
The program is required by the federal government to be “comprehensive” in its scope, meaning that it must provide activities that meet the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students, but also must be consistent with and promote the goals in the state and local improvement plans under Title III of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, as well as other state standards and assessments. The program is assessed each year by the government to ensure that the goals are being met.

Program Eligibility
Basically, any child who is an enrolled member of a band or tribe, or who is the child or grandchild of an enrolled member of a band or tribe is eligible for the program. For more details, see the Student Eligibility Form.

Title III Support for Native American Students

Under federal funding for Title III, Native American/Alaskan Native students may receive additional help in achieving grade level proficiency.  Native American/Alaskan Native students who have been identified by state or district testing as being below grade level are screened with the initial language proficiency placement test provided by the state, currently the Washington English Language Proficiency Assessment.  If a student scores at level 1, 2 or 3 on the WELPA, the student could receive extra support in the form of extended day programs, summer school, or the student’s teachers could receive additional professional development.  The goal of the program is to provide language or literacy supports.  Please note, that if your child is identified by WELPA he/she will NOT be entering an ELL program or classroom.

If your family has been notified that your child is being tested and you would prefer to decline, please call 425-456-4135.


The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.