2010-07: Assessment of the Bureau of Indian Education U.S. Department of Interior

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1970 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 ornon-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, all Native American children shall receive equal opportunities from thefederal government based upon the unique indigenous status, language, and culturalhistory,

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 and Alaska Native residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, among those institutions now operated by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), within the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), are educational institutions from preschool to higher education; and

WHEREAS, Tribal control of education institutions that serve Native Americans and Alaska Natives have shown to be an effective mechanism for governance of these institutions; and

WHEREAS, to gain a more thorough understanding of Bureau of Indian Education schools and institutions, there is a need for a national intergovernmental assessment of the governance structures and success rates of Native students; i.e., graduation, persistence, dropout, and other factors that demonstrate the achievement of the principles of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (P.L. 93-638, as amended); now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NIEA membership calls upon the National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Education Association to work collaboratively with the U.S. Department of Interior and Department of Education to develop an Assessment Plan of the Bureau of Indian Education and report back to NIEA; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA directs its Executive Director to ensure that the present Presidential Administration and appropriate Congressional leaders and Committee Chairmen receive a copy of this Resolution and that this policy goal be pursued until it is accomplished.