In 1961, the Ute Indian Tribe initiated a pre-school program.  During the period 1961 to 1965, the program was housed in the oldAlterra High School .  The program was actually an outgrowth of testing experiments conducted in 1958, in cooperation with the University of Utah to determine the reasons for low academic achievement among Ute Indian children.

Under Title I of the 1968 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Uintah County School District began receiving federal funds for low income families so that special programs might be offered for all classes of “disadvantaged pupils” in attendance, including the Ute Indian pupils.  The Uintah School District first initiated the Ute cultural studies (Ute language, Ute culture, and the development of a Ute history textbook) in the public schools using these monies.  In 1973, the Uintah County School District obtained federal funds on behalf of Ute students.  These funds were used to supplement the basic education program and to meet the special educational needs of Indian children attending public schools throughout the nation, both on and off reservations. 

During the early 1970’s, the Ute Indian Tribe formally established a tribal department of education.  In recognition of the 1970 Bureau of Census data which indicated that the average educational attainment among Ute Indian people was grade 10.0; the Ute Tribe initiated an Adult Basic Education Program in 1973 with federal funds from the Indian Education Act of 1972.  This project has continued to serve Ute Indian adults in completing high school or obtaining GED – General Education Development Certificates up to the present time.  In 1974, the Ute Tribe Education Department assumed the operation of the Community Education Program through a contract with the BIA under P.L. 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.  This program served as the ORBS – Off Reservation Boarding School Department up until 1981, when, at the recommendation of Washington Office BIA personnel, the appropriations for these types of programs were discontinued by Congress.

In 1978, a comprehensive needs assessment survey sponsored by the Ute Tribe Education Division indicated that over a twenty (20) year period (1958 to 1978), there had not been a significant improvement in the average academic achievement levels of Ute Indian children.  In recognizing the need for quality education, greater Indian participation and involvement in the actual operation of Indian education programs serving Indian students in school, the Ute Tribe Education Division took over the operation of the Johnson O’Malley Program, previously administered by the school districts.  The Ute Tribe JOM Program continues to provide supplemental services to meet the special education needs of eligible Indian children.

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