The school is run by Indians for Indians with no cost to the taxpayers of the state of Colorado. The school was opened after much debate among tribal members who finally appropriated two million dollars for the school s operation. Parents and elders of the tribe, some of whom have no teaching license, staff it. The most notable part of the education that goes on at the Southern Ute Indian Academy is how much attention is given to individually structured education. In a place like Southwestern Colorado, such individual attention is of paramount importance.
Some students speak Spanish better than English, while other speak English very well.
Some students are mostly Ute while others have very little Ute heritage. All of the students are given the materials necessary to learn in light of their individual background. None of this would be surprising or unusual to anyone familiar with Montessori s education system. The goal of Montessori education is to provide students with skills that accentuate their individuality while making them active members of whatever community they happen to come from. The Montessori system is not alone in giving attention to the individual student.