Cherokee Nation awards $4.7 million to 106 school districts

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – The Cherokee Nation is sending a total of $4.7 million in donations to 106 school districts in 14 counties in northeastern Oklahoma.

The program began in 2002 and the funding comes from the sale of Cherokee nation car tags. The tribe uses 38 percent of car tag sales for education.

The school districts receive $165 for each Cherokee Nation student it has enrolled. School superintendents are free to use the funding as they see needed.

The donations range from $3,474 to schools in Osage County to $788,291 to districts in Tulsa County.