2011-13: Support for NACIE Board to be composed of educators and representatives from communities throughout Indian Country, including urban, rural, and reservation communities

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 or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) is set up to advise the Secretary of the USDOE concerning the funding and administration (including the development of regulations and administrative policies and practices) of any program including any program established under Title VII Part A of ESEA, with respect to which the Secretary has jurisdiction and (a) that includes Indian children or adults as participants; or (b) that may benefit Indian Children or adults; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Indian Education within USDOE provides services to over 1,200 LEA and tribal grantees, administering services to rural urban, and reservation based Indian students, and communities all across the United States; and

WHEREAS, the NACIE must reflect a high level of educational expertise from K-12 and higher education, including knowledge of parents, special education, dropout strategies, technology, language and cultural based instruction, curriculum and instructional best practices, and others; and

WHEREAS, the NACIE must also represent the interests of the broadest constituency of students and communities in Indian country, including Indian students in urban, rural, and reservations; and

WHEREAS, 93% of American Indian children attend public schools, many of which are located in urban areas; and

WHEREAS, there is a long history of NACIE boards created with diverse educational interests, and representatives with years of experience, required to provide policy recommendations at the highest national levels; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NIEA was instrumental in drafting the Native CLASS Act which supports strengthening all aspects of Native education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NIEA fully supports the need for NACIE; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the representation on NACIE needs to continue to be composed of diverse, well-trained educators and representatives of all communities throughout Indian country, especially those who are often neglected in rural and urban communities, as well as those on reservations.