2024 - #001: Tribal Education Parity with LEAs and SEAs

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 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, the United States has a unique trust responsibility to provide for the education of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children; and

WHEREAS, Native nations and tribes have the inherent right to establish their own schools and school systems for the purpose of supporting the unique educational needs of their citizens and local communities; and

WHEREAS, tribal schools are uniquely poised to design, develop and implement the best approach that is culturally relevant and community-specific education to AI/AN/NH students, fostering both academic achievement and cultural preservation; and

WHEREAS, current limitations that only define tribes that are BIE funded as eligible entities for U.S. Department of Education discretionary grants and funds may hinder the ability of tribally controlled schools that are not Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded from accessing essential resources; and

WHEREAS, equitable access to these grants and funds will enhance educational opportunities, improve school facilities, and support innovative educational programs for AI/AN/NH students who historically have been underserved.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association calls for the US Department of Education to identify all tribal education agencies and tribal schools as eligible recipients for grants and other education program funding that are available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and State Education Agencies (SEAs) and remove any barriers that would deny access to the various funds that the Department of Education has available; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all tribal education agencies and tribal schools should be considered as eligible applicants and leads for grants and other discretionary education funds and that the federal government should conduct tribal consultations to identify specific needs and priorities and that congress should allocate funds and resources to the US Department of Education to adequately fund all tribal education agencies and tribal schools; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy of NIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution.