CURRENT LAW

The following is a brief exerpt from Public Law 107-110--Jan. 8, 2002

Part D- Native American Education Improvement

SEC. 1041. SHORT TITLE

This part may be cited as the "Native American Education Improvement Act of 2001".

SEC. 1042. AMENDMENTS TO THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1978.

Part B of title XI of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

Part B - Bureau of Indian Affairs Programs

"SEC. 1120. DECLARATION OF POLICY.

"Congress declares that the Federal Government has the sole responsibility for the operation and financial support of the Bureau of Indian Affairs funded school system that it has established on or near Indian reservations and Indian trust lands throughout the Nation for Indian children. It is the policy of the United States to fulfill the Federal Government's unique and continuing trust relationship with and responsibility to the Indian people for the education of Indian children and for the operation and financial support of the Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school system to work in full cooperation with tribes toward the goal of ensuring that hte programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded school system are of the highest quality and provide for the basic elementary and secondary educational needs of Indian children, including meeting the unique educational and cultural needs of those children.

The American people are dedicated to the enhancment of the American Indian. And while this is a small part of the 100 page document that describes the many changes that have taken place and are in effect since 1978, it is the most important. WE have the responsibility of educating Americans and this current law is evidencs that we are committed to doing so.

If you have more questions about the legislation that currently is affecting the American Indians, I would suggest the following website as a good starting place. Other webites that may be helpful are listed under teacher resources and web citations.

Friends Committee on National Legislation

www.fcnl.org/act_nal u_curnt/indian_504_01.htm

Follow this link to Native American Legislative Updates. See What President George W. Bush is currently doing, or working on to better the lives of the American Indians in Education. This site is kept current and is an excellent resource.