Dr. Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert testifies
on September 9, 2008.
The administration should do more to improve academic standards for schoolchildren who attend Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools,
witnesses told the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education at a hearing on Tuesday. Specifically, they said the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Education must work more closely with tribal organizations to develop accountability systems under the No Child Left Behind Act. The federal government provides elementary and secondary education and educational assistance to Indian children directly through federally-funded schools or through assistance to public schools. Ninety percent of Indian students attend public schools operated by local school districts. However, 10 percent attend BIE schools, which are schools funded by the Department of the Interior. BIE schools are subject to NCLB with limited exceptions.
"Our success
in the 21st century economy is directly tied to our ability to produce
a high quality labor force. And that ability is, of course, directly
tied to our ability to meet the challenge of providing every child –
including every Indian child – with a world-class education. We must
ensure that Indian tribes – which are sovereign entities who best
understand their children’s needs – are full partners in that process."
-- Subcommittee Chairman Dale Kildee.
"Recognizing
and validating the cultural, social and linguistic needs of American
Indians is critical to guaranteeing the continuity of their
communities... We believe with good faith collaboration that we can
provide our children with an education that honors their Native
identities while simultaneously preparing them for successful futures
by providing them with opportunities to incorporate into the curriculum
their rich cultural heritages, languages, and traditions." -- Dr.
Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert, President of the National Indian Education
Association (NIEA), who testified that the BIE should expand upon the
culturally based instruction currently taking place in Indian schools
by promoting stronger integration of Native culture and languages into
the curriculum.
"The
frustration with this situation is NCLB provides opportunities for
tribes to have a significant voice on assessing the quality of
education for their children and making changes to their educational
programs based on those assessments... The manner in which the BIE has
chosen to implement NCLB has left tribes with no voice in educating
their own children." -- Ted Hamilton, Executive Director of the Oceti
Sakowin Education Consortium, who testified about the need to develop
strong accountability systems tailored to BIE schools under NCLB.
With the U.S. facing staggering rates of child obesity, the Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday, July 24 at 10 a.m., to examine how to improve physical education in the nation’s schools and strengthen efforts to fight childhood obesity.
“The Benefits of Physical and Health Education for Our Nation’s Children”
Witnesses:
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)
Richard Simmons, Fitness Expert and Advocate
Tim Brown, former Oakland Raider wide receiver and nine time Pro-Bowler
Dr.
Russell Pate, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences and
Professor, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
Lori Rose Benson, Director of Fitness and Physical Education, New York City Department of Education
Robert M. Keiser, Student Advisor to Governor Charlie Crist, Council on Physical Fitness, Florida
On Thursday, July 17 at 10:00 a.m., the Committee will hear from mayors and school superintendents of major U.S. cities, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta, at a hearing on their challenges and successes in working to improve public schools.
“Mayor and Superintendent Partnerships in Education: Closing the Achievement Gap"
Witnesses:
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City
Chancellor Joel I. Klein, New York City Public Schools
Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, District of Columbia
Chancellor Michelle Rhee, DC Public Schools
Arne Duncan, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Public Schools
Beverly L. Hall, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools