2010-11: Support for the NEA Priority Schools Campaign

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 Indian organization of American Indian, 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 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 ornon-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, all Native American children shall receive equal opportunities from the federal government based upon the unique indigenous status, language, and cultural history,

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 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 ornon-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the Obama Administration has made low performing schools a national priority and will support initiatives in schools that have the greatest need and demonstrate the strongest commitment to significantly raise achievement of their students; and

WHEREAS, the National Education Association (NEA) and it’s 3.2 million members are committed to transforming the nation’s persistently low-performing, priority schoolsinto great public schools for all students; and

WHEREAS, NEA’s Priority Schools Campaign rests on an evidenced-based set of measures that increase student achievement and increases high school graduation. This evidence includes:

  • A strong partnership between the school and student’sfamilies;

  • An investment in increasing the skills and effectiveness of the schoolstaff;

  • Community-provided social and health services for students and their families; and

  • Disrtict/union collaboration

WHEREAS, public schools serving American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students can be significantly strengthened by organizations like NIEA and NEA working together to improve them.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) supports NEA’s Priority Schools Campaign and urges its members to work with students and their parents, teachers, and communities to turn these schools around.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) and NEA will collaborate to help give every child a great public school.

Steven Peters