2013-08: Support Holding One National Advisory Council on Indian Education Meeting During the National Indian Education Association Annual Convention

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 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 Natives, and Native Hawaiians, residing on and off their reserved or non-reserved homelands; and

WHEREAS, the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) was developed to advise the Secretary of the U.S Department of Education (ED) concerning the funding and administration (including the development of regulations and administrative policies and practices) of any program, including those established under Title VII, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 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 ED provides services to over 1,200 local education agencies and tribal grantees, administering services to rural, urban, and reservation based Indian students and communities across the United States; and

WHEREAS, NACIE boards are created with diverse educational interests and representatives with years of experience from across the country that provide policy recommendations at the highest national levels and should have the opportunity to outreach and meet with education stakeholders at the local level; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the NIEA recommends that the Office of Indian Education in ED ensure that NACIE assembles once per year at the National Indian Education Association Annual Convention to ensure diverse, local input is adequately incorporated into federal policy.