2021-03: In Support of Including Doctoral Programs in the Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program

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 is the largest national Native organization of American Indian, Alaska Native, 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 Native nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, Doctoral degrees are essential to strong education systems, governments, and nations, where Native people serve in leadership roles at all levels of government; and

WHEREAS, Congress established the Office of Indian Education (OIE) Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program to provide professional training for Native students to become administrators and teachers and support training to Native individuals in other fields that serve Native peoples; and 

WHEREAS, there continues to be a tremendous need for well-trained Native school administrators, university professors, and state education officials all across the United States, including in rural, urban, and reservation communities; and

WHEREAS, due to a lack of Native professionals with doctoral degrees, many teaching, administrator, and leadership positions that serve Native people are filled by non-Native leaders who do not speak the language, know the values and traditions, or stay on the job for extended periods of time; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, less than 4% of Native adults have attained a doctorate degree compared to 10.6% of White adults; and

WHEREAS, the underlying statute does not prohibit inclusion of any doctoral program or other advanced degree program within the OIE Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education has excluded doctoral students from participation in the OIE Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program through the definition of a “Full-time student” in 20 CFR §263.3; and

WHEREAS, the National Congress of American Indians and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians approved recent resolutions in support of expanding the Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program to include doctoral programs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association urges the Department of Education to include and support any doctoral program or advanced degree program within the OIE Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA urges Congress to increase funding for the OIE Indian Education Professional Development Grant Program to meet the tremendous need in Native communities, and to include doctoral programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA supports Native students who choose a career that requires a doctorate degree regardless of where they seek employment.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.