This is a critical time for Native
communities and for the United States as a whole. Just half of American Indian
and Alaska Native high-school freshmen will graduate on time. Native tribes and nations are struggling with the lack of high-quality,
culturally-based school opportunities. Native communities are concerned
with both the prospects of reductions in federal spending, and the direction of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act/Elementary and Secondary Education Act. And Tribal Education Departments and other agencies that handle Native education want the ability to participate in the federal Race to the Top initiative and other competitive school reform grant programs.
At the same time,
President Barack Obama’s move last year to improve education for American
Indian and Alaska Native students provides new opportunities to help Native
students succeed. Thanks to the work of NIEA and its partners, President Obama signed Executive Order 13592, through which the U.S. Department of
Education and the Department of the Interior are working together to expand the
capacity of tribal colleges and universities, and stem the impact of America’s
high school dropout crisis on American Indian and Alaska Native students. The administration's commitment to improving education for Native students, along with that of House and Senate leaders advocating for the passage of the Native Culture, Language and Access for Success in Schools (CLASS) Act, offers openings for Native advocates to help their communities choose education that will best-serve their children.
Last year, NIEA and its allies helped make key steps in advancing excellence and culture for Native students. This year's Legislative Agenda will build upon these opportunities and address critical issues by focusing on
giving Native families and communities the power needed to choose excellent,
culturally-based education that will help their children and themselves succeed
in an economy in which knowledge is power. This includes:
-
Strengthen Tribal Control of Education
-
Invest in Cultural and Language Revitalization
-
Focus on the Development and
Retention of Native Teachers, Administrators and Education Leaders.
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Address the Needs of All Native Students
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Ensure that the Federal Government Fulfills Its Trust Obligation and Make Strong Investments in Indian Education Programs in the FY 2013 Budget
NIEA outlines its agenda in
Key Points on Native Education
, offers background on key positions and legislation in the
Advocacy Briefing,
and provides the constitutional framework for our policy direction. Read
and watch
the
2012 State of Native Education Address
, which unveiled NIEA's agenda during the
Legislative Summit
. Further data on the condition of education for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students is available on our research pages
. And previous briefs and legislative positions are available here
, along with
resolutions,
joint recommendations with the National Council of
American Indians
on reauthorizing No Child/ESEA
,
testimonials
, manuals and other policy resources
,
and our work with the
Campaign for High School Equity.
And follow NIEA on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates on our Legislative Agenda and adv
ocacy efforts.