Requesting that the President’s FY 2003 Budget include increases in Student Transportation, Facilities, Operations and Maintenance and Administrative Cost Grants

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 an Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian 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 Na’ive people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political relationship with Indian nationals 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 funding levels for certain BIA education program; including Student Transportation, Facilities Operations and Maintenance, and Administrative Cost Grants have been funded at well below the required levels, thereby requiring schools to reduce the funds available for pupil instruction to make up these deficits; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is considering changes to the Indian School Equalization program (ISEP) that would eliminate specific formula weights for Bilingual programs and Intense Residential Guidance due to reported abuse of the weighted student counts related to these programs.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association supports funding at the 100% level of need for all components of ISEP; including Student Transportation, Facilities Operations and Maintenance, and Administrative Cost Grants; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the National Indian Education Association supports full consultation with the affected schools and tribes prior to any changes in the ISEP formula and favors enforcement of existing rules in cases of abuse by schools over a response to do away with the programs. Submitted by: Raphael Martin, Navajo, Navajo Area School Boards Association.

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors at its October 28 – 31, 2001 meeting in Billings, Montana at which a quorum was present.