Interior announces $1.2 million to be awarded to tribes to take control, operate their Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Navajo Nation will receive $200,000 in Sovereignty in Indian Education (SIE) enhancement funds to promote tribal control and operation of Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools on their reservations.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Kevin

K. Washburn announced Oct. 23 that six federally recognized tribes will split $1.2 million.

The American Indian Education Study Group, convened by Jewell and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, issued a recommendation to award the money in the Blueprint for Reform of the Bureau of Indian Education on June 13,

"Increasing tribal control over BIE-funded schools not only promotes tribal self-determination, but also provides greater tribal discretion in determining what American Indian children should learn, increasing accountability throughout the school system," Jewell said. "With school management authority, these communities will have more power to create lessons with tribal cultural values and Native languages, both of which can ensure their children stay connected to their heritage and help them to succeed in the future. These enhancement funds can make the difference in an effective, relevant and rigorous education for American Indian children."

Washburn said the SIE Enhancement Initiative furthers President Obama's commitment to tribal sovereignty in education.

"Teaching culture, tradition and language in schools is crucial to engaging Indian students and preserving tribal identities," he said. "Tribes have a comparative advantage over a federal agency in prioritizing these important subjects, which are different for each tribe, but they need federal support in building their capacities. This initiative will provide that support."

BIE Director Dr. Charles 'Monty' Roessel said the money will help the BIE "begin its transformation into a school improvement agency that provides support to tribes as they begin to create tribally managed school systems through self-determination."

According to the Office of the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, the purpose of the Sovereignty in Indian Education Enhancement Initiative is to provide funds to federally recognized tribes and their tribal education departments to create tribally managed school systems. The six tribes can use the award for researching, assessing and developing an implementation plan to establish a tribally managed school system. Tribes will conduct a comprehensive analysis and an aligned implementation plan of their tribal education departments and school systems in four areas of school reform: finance, academics, governance, and human resources. The following tribes will receive money:

• Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, Arizona;

• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Fort Yates, North Dakota;

• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Belcourt, North Dakota;

• Tohono O'Odham Nation, Sells, Arizona;

• Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona; and

• Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

The Sovereignty in Indian Education enhancement funds respond to the findings and recommendations of the American Indian Education Study Group for improving how federal education services and resources are delivered in Indian Country Jewell and Duncan convened the study group in 2013 under the White House Council on Native American Affairs to propose a comprehensive reform plan to ensure that all students attending BIE-funded schools receive a quality education.

A release from the Department of the Interior said increasing tribal control over BIE schools recognizes the sovereign status of federally recognized tribes, provides them greater discretion in determining what their children should learn, and helps increase accountability throughout the BIE-funded school system. Tribal control of federally funded government programs often improves local service delivery because tribal governments better understand the needs of their communities, are more responsive and better able to be flexible to changes in those needs, and are more accountable for results by their constituents.

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