Request for a Hearing with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to Address Reauthorization of E.S.E.A., No Child Left Behind Act, JOM, and Impact Aid Funds

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 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 Indian organization of American Indians, 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 Indian nations and tribes, the federal government has established programs and resources to meet the educational needs of American Indians, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs can influence revisions to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Reauthorization process; and

WHEREAS, Excellence and Equity for American Indian students are concerns of NIEA, Title VIII Impact Aid, and Johnson O’Malley recipients; and

WHEREAS, it is through unity of all serving American Indian students that the outcomes needed will be achieved; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association does hereby request a hearing with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to present concerns and data relevant to revisions needed in the E.S.E.A. and the No Child Left Behind Act to benefit American Indian students.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association combine with the Johnson O’Malley Association (JOM), and the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) as partners unifying efforts to achieve the highest culturally relevant instructional practices with appropriate resources to meet our American Indian students’ needs and provide our concerns to the Senate Committee on American Indians through a hearing as soon as possible, preferably Spring of 2006.

Submitted by: Francine Chavez (Zuni/Laguna)

Parent Advisory Council/Indian Education Committee

JOM Chairperson, Zuni Public School District

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the following resolution was dully considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors at its October 10, 2005 meeting in Denver, Colorado at which a quorum was present