2008-02: Support Full Funding of Federal Impact Aid

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indian, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian educators, administrators, parents and students in the United States, provides a forum to discuss and act upon issues affecting the education of Indian and Native people; and

WHEREAS, through its’ unique relationship with Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the No Child Left Behind act continues to be under funded and has negative consequences for Indian Impact Aid school districts as they continue to struggle to maintain and meet the basic educational needs of Native student, families and communities, including meeting the basic transportation needs; and

WHEREAS, the Impact Aid is currently funded at 60% of need as defined by law; and there is a need for an additional $600 million to fully fund Impact Aid; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association urges the U.S. Government to fulfill its’ trust responsibility and fully fund the Federal Impact Aid to support the educational needs of Native students, parents, tribes and local education agencies.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association urges the U.S. Congress to develop a forward funding methodology of the Federal Impact Aid so the local education agencies are not faced with annual budget constraints.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the National Indian Education Association supports the basic premise of both the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools and National Indian Impacted School Association to seek full federal funding for Impact Aid.