Support for Application for Impact Aid

WHEREAS, the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was established in 1969 for the purpose of advocating, planning, and promoting the unique and special education needs of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, NIEA as the largest national Indian organization of American Indians, Alaska Natives, 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 the unique relationship with Indian 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, 635 Indian lands schools districts serving Tribal children throughout the United States receive Impact Aid funds authorized by Section 8003 (b) of Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: and

WHEREAS, a prerequisite for receipt of impact aid funds is that each local school district annually apply for such funds, and that such applications contain Indian Policies and Procedures (IPP’s) which describe a plan for and direct the development of educational programs and activites to be made available to Indian Children; and

WHEREAS, NIEA has the responsibility to monitor and ensure that member Tribal Councils and parents of Indian children have an equal opportunity to plan and design educational programs and activities and to ensure that Indian children participate in said programs and activities on an equal basis with all children in Impact Aid funded education programs and activities; and

WHEREAS, Tribal Council and Indian parent involvement in the planning and development of Indian Policies and Procedures contained in applications for Impact Aid funding can only be effective if said comment and involvement is required by local Tribal Councils and Indian parents; and

WHEREAS, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, including Section 8003 (b) of Title VIII Federal Impact Aid, is currently up for federal reauthorization and proposed language does not require the consent of respective Tribal governments;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association hereby mandates that the United States Department of Education shall require in reauthorization language that each Tribal governing body shall give its consent to the respective Section 8003 (b) applications submitted by school districts and educational entities serving children on their respective reservations.