The Hoop of Learning Program is an early college high school bridge program administered by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD).  The Hoop of Learning program was implemented in the summer of 1995 in response to concerns voiced by Native parents in an urban high school district in Phoenix, Arizona.  The Indian Education Parent Committee approached the director of the Indian Education Program with concerns that the local high schools were not offering culturally appropriate support or direction to prepare their children for higher education and career development.  As a result, the parents, the high school district, and a local community college formed a partnership committed to providing meaningful education for Native students.  The Hoop of Learning Program is the result of this partnership.  The original partnership was between Phoenix College and the Phoenix Union District, however, that partnership extended to four other colleges and to other high school districts in the East Valley.  Tempe Union High School District, the Scottsdale School District, and the Mesa Public Schools District have also been included in these partnerships between MCCCD and its community colleges.

The Hoop of Learning is now in its 11th year.  The current Hoop of Learning model serves Native American students who live in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.  Approximately 30,000 American Indian students attend public schools in the greater Phoenix valley area.  It has significantly served those Native American students who, largely due to socio-economic reasons, would not have had access to higher education.  The program has allowed well over 1000 Native American students in the last decade a pathway to higher education.  The MCCCD leadership and support of the program has significantly influenced additional colleges to participate.  Beginning in academic year 2006-07, the program expanded to include four other colleges, in partnership with high school districts in their respective service areas.  With the expansion of the program to include 9 colleges, approximately 800 Native American students are being served during the course of the academic year.

The Hoop of Learning model offers a conceptual program specifically tailored to meet the culturally-related academic needs of American Indian students.  Basic tenets of the model are:

Success of the program can be attributed to strong support at each of the local colleges and strong parental involvement and support.  Orientations are held at the beginning of each year for parents and students, and at the end of the year to celebrate and honor those who are graduating from the program.  For further information, please call Dr. Bo Colbert at (480)461-7931, or email: charles.colbert@mcmail.maricopa.edu