By: Lani Hansen, Reporter
OKMULGEE, Oklahoma- Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Education and Training is assisting students in need through the Virtual Learning Support Program.
The Virtual Learning Support Program is a part of the CARES funding the tribe received this year. It is part of the human services component of the overall budget. This program is to assist citizens who are going to be students in the fall and who are going to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through their schools who are potentially going through virtual learning, according to Secretary of Education Dr. Monte Randall.
“The main portion for us is to provide students with a one-time payment of $850.00 so they can purchase whatever they need,” Dr. Randall said.
MCN citizens who are currently enrolled as a student whether it is elementary, middle school, high school or college is eligible for funding. The class or course must be from a place where the student is certified, like a technical school or public school.
There are two ways how to apply, one is an online application and the other is a hard copy application, both of which are open now.
“Both of those applications are on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation website on the home page,” Dr. Randall said. “The link and paper application information are all on the home page, then of course on our Facebook pages Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Education and Training. I have seen it shared hundreds of times by individuals.”
The deadline to apply for the funding is December 1; with the CARES Act regulations all funding for the Department of Education must be spent by the end of the year.
“We’ve kept that deadline open for as long as we could,” Dr. Randall said. “We are also requiring citizens to return receipts to show that they did purchase technology or help facilitate virtual learning. Receipts are due by the 31st as well.”
The funds received are for anything that supports virtual learning such as; laptops, tablets, hotspot, desktop, chromebooks, or any other technology that may be deemed necessary to complete their education needs.
With the completed application they also require proof of MCN citizenship and proof of student enrollment. The student enrollment can be anything from the school, a letter with a school letterhead, something printed from a portal, or a schedule.
The funding is available to all MCN citizens who are students.
For more information contact MCN Department of Education at 918-732-7727 or email detcares@mcn-nsn.gov
Good afternoon,
My name is Erma McBride, I left an email regarding virtual assistant for my five grandkids. I need to complete the form, I did not see how to access it. My tribal roll number is 59730. I can be reached at 19168339975. I live in Sacramento, Ca. 95660
Thank you,
Erma McBride