Tribal Consultation, May 1999.

N

88

American Indian Education; Community Colleges; Early Childhood Education; Educational Facilities Improvement; Elementary Secondary Education; Family Literacy; Federal Aid; Federal Indian Relationship; Grants; Grantsmanship; Higher Education; Tribally Controlled Education

Federal legislation requires that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) facilitate American Indian control of Indian affairs in all matters related to education. Accordingly, the BIA schedules annual consultation meetings in which tribes, parents, schools, and other interested parties can discuss educational issues and current BIA proposals. This consultation booklet provides background information on four items discussed at regional meetings in May 1999. An introduction discusses legislative authority for consultation; lists dates, locations, and local contacts for 13 regional meetings; and outlines formats for meetings and for submitting written comments. Item 1 concerns tribal application for construction of replacement educational facilities. The BIA developed a streamlined application and instructions and specific criteria for ranking applications on the basis of need. An alternative funding scheme for facilities construction is also described, involving long-term financial partnerships with the federal government. BIA sources of technical assistance are listed. Item 2 is open for discussion of any topic, but suggested topics are the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and how to obtain an appropriate tribal governing body for BIA off-reservation boarding schools that wish to convert to tribal-school status. Item 3 discusses possible expansion of the Family and Child Education Programs to include all BIA-funded schools. Item 4 concerns the revision of regulations, by writing them in "plain English," relating to grants to tribally controlled community colleges and Navajo Community College. (SV)

1999

ED432433