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The
113th Congress provides a key opportunity to advance the reform of Native
education through consideration of legislation similar to that for the Native
Culture Language, and Access for Success in Schools (CLASS) Act. Last month,
NIEA requested members to review the
draft
language and submit their feedback. In the coming months, NIEA and its
partners will provide more information on the progress of developing and
passing the new legislation.
The
following draft language comes from NIEA’s initial proposal for the Native
CLASS Act, which addresses the joint NCAI/NIEA education priorities outlined
in NIEA
Resolution 10-8 (page 16) and NCAI'S Resolution #ABQ-10-054. The language
has been marginally edited to account for some updates in the past year, such
as the removal of the Troops to Teachers provision. The National Defense
Authorization Act recently made the U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
eligible for the program eliminating the need for legislative action.
Background
During
the 112th Congress, the Native CLASS Act (S. 1262 and H.R. 3569) was passed
out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in October 2011. The Native
CLASS Act is a comprehensive bill that includes a number of provisions tribal
leaders have long sought, including the recognition of tribal governments as
sovereigns in directing the education of Native students.
Next Steps
In
partnership with NCAI, the Tribal Education Departments National Assembly
(TEDNA), and the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET), NIEA is working with
Congress to introduce a Native education measure similar to the Native CLASS
Act. NIEA and its partners have already begun reevaluating the previous
language and considering revisions and additions. NIEA has taken comments and
will continue to work on the language, as well as other aspects of the
proposed bill.
You
can learn more by contacting Clint Bowers, NIEA's Research and
Policy Associate.
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RESOURCES
Read the draft
language and summary
for the Native CLASS Act
Read
NIEA/NCAI’s joint education priorities (NIEA Resolution 10-8 (Page 16)/NCAI
Resolution #ABQ-10-054)
Check out an earlier
analysis of the Native CLASS Act
Read
the Native
CLASS Act language as passed out of the Senate Committee on Indian
Affairs in 2011
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