Opposing the Transfer of the Head Start Program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Department of Education

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 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 andNative people; and

WHEREAS, through its unique political 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, NIEA advocates for Indian education programs and funding for the best interest and benefit of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian children; and

WHEREAS, the Bush Administration has proposed to move the Head Start program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, Tribal Head Start programs have a proven record of achieving positive child outcomes in all aspect of a child’s development and learning, including social competence and school readiness; and

WHEREAS, the Head Start program under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have made significant gains in FY2000 through Family and Community Partnerships and program funding increases of $607 million bringing the total to $5.3 billion and additional funding for fatherhood, literacy and early Head Start programs serving infant and toddlers; and

WHEREAS, Head Start is a human development program that promotes quality child care and education for all children and families with a belief that educational goals can best be achieved when parents, communities and schools all work together; and

WHEREAS, Indian Head Start programs support the No Child Left Behind Act; and

WHEREAS, the No Child Left Behind Act includes initiatives intended to help prepare children for school, it does not always ensure that young children will have a high quality early learning experience due to affordability, accessibility and availability of services and whether they are full or part time in rural/urban settings; and

WHEREAS, tribal Head Start programs provide a unique opportunity to enhance cultural pride and knowledge through the promotion of tribal language immersion programs; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has made a strong commitment to tribal Head Start programs and their unique needs; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been proactive in its consultation process with tribes and grantees of tribal Head Start programs; and

WHEREAS, Head Start programs for Indian students may be subject to the same bureaucratic obstacles experienced by other Indian education programs within the U.S. Department of Education.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association does hereby oppose the transfer of the Head Start program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the U.S. Department of Education.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association respectfully requests that HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson retain the Head Start program under his agency and jurisdiction; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be the policy ofNIEA until it is withdrawn or modified by subsequent resolution, and that NIEA urges the Bush Administration to maintain Head Start programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Submitted by: Albert Yazzie (Navajo)

CERTIFICATION

I do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly considered and passed by the NIEA Board of Directors on its May 17, 2002 conference call at which time a quorum was present.