From the ECS State Policy Database Minority/Diversity Issues--American Indian / Alaska Native / Native Hawaiian

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary MT Signed into law 04/2013 Postsec. Allowing board of regents to waive tuition and fees for certain students H.B. 286 Expands the eligibility of the Montana University System American Indian resident waivers to enrolled members of a state-recognized or federally recognized Indian tribe. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2013/billpdf/HB0286.pdf... More... WA Signed into law 04/2013 P-12 Authorizing State-Tribal Education Compact Schools H.B. 1134 Reaffirms the state's commitment to government-to-government relationships with the tribes that have been recognized by proclamation, and in the centennial accord and the millennium agreement and authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to enter int... More... NM Passed 03/2013 Postsec. Study to Examine Where Tribal Colleges are Excluded H.M. 94 Requests that the higer education department (HED) examine during the 2013 interim to identify (and propose a plan to correct) where tribal colleges are excluded from state programs, policies and procedures, and accompanying budget and funding processes, inclu... More... NM Passed 03/2013 P-12 American Indian Suicide Prevention S.B. 447 Creates the Native American suicide prevention advisory council to provide culturally appropriate suicide prevention, intervention and post-event assistance statewide to Native American individuals, families and tribes, nations and pueblos living with suicide,... More... NM Passed 02/2013 P-12 Feasibility Study of a Bi-State Charter School for a Navajo Nation Chapter H.M. 43 Resolves that the Indian education division of the public education department and the Indian affairs department create a work group to study the feasibility of a bi-state charter school in the Red Lake chapter of the Navajo Nation and develop a report with fi... More... NM Passed 02/2013 Postsec. Workforce Skill and Education Aquisition for Hispanic and American Indians H.M. 41 Requests the secretary of workforce solutions to conduct a study on how to provide assistance to Hispanics and American Indians who seek to gain the skills and education needed to join the workforce. The study, along with its recommendations and findings, is ... More... HI Adopted 06/2012 P-12 Review of State Funding for ESL and Hawaiian Language Programs S.R. 43 Requests that the University of Hawaii, with the assistance of the department of education and other educational organizations as appropriate, review the state's funding for existing English as a Second Language and Hawaiian language programs offered in Hawaii... More... HI Adopted 06/2012 P-12 Review of the State's Funding for Existing ESL Instruction/Activities and Hawaiian Language Programs S.C.R. 87 Requests that the University of Hawaii, with the assistance of the department of education and other educational organizations, as appropriate, review the state's funding for existing English as a Second Language instruction and activities and Hawaiian languag... More... AK Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council S.B.130 Establishes the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council to advise both the governor and legislature on programs, policies, and projects to provide for the cost-effective preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native languages ... More... HI Adopted 04/2012 P-12 Hawaiian Studies Program H.R. 59 Requests that the board of education and department of education comply in full with the findings and recommendations of the Office of the Auditor's management audit of the department of education's Hawaiian Studies Program. Asks the board of education and dep... More... NM Signed into law 02/2012 P-12 Postsec. Tribal College Dual Credit Programs S.B. 256 Provides funding for Tribal colleges that participate in the dual credit program for high school students to offset waived tuition and fees; creates the Tribal college dual credit program fund. http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/12%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0256.p... More... WA Signed into law 05/2011 P-12 Creating a Division of Indian Education H.B. 1829 Creates an Indian education division, to be known as the office of Native education, within the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide assistance to school districts in meeting the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native s... More... ND Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 A Study of Indian Education Issues H.B. 1049 Requires (between July 1, 2011, and July 1, 2013) the superintendent of public instruction to conduct a study of Indian education issues to develop criteria for grants to low-performing schools. The superintendent is to determine: 1. The extent to which gover... More... MI Signed into law 10/2010 P-12 Native American Tribal Language and Culture Class/Teachers S.B. 1014 Permits the Michigan Department of Education to enter into a memorandum of understanding with a federally recognized Native American tribe, the board of a school district, or the board of directors of a public school academy (PSA) authorizing the superintenden... More... CA Signed into law 09/2010 P-12 American Indian Education Center Program A.B. 2089 Existing law establishes California American Indian education centers to serve as community-based educational resource centers for American Indian pupils, parents, guardians and the public schools to promote the academic and cultural achievement of the pupils.... More... OK Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education Act H.B. 2929 Creates the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education Act; states purpose of the act; creates the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education; directs the Council to perform certain functions; states membership; requires appointments be made and specifie... More... MN Signed into law 05/2010 Postsec. Community College Indian Scholarship Eligibility S.F. 184 Defines "resident student" for eligibility for Indian scholarships by reference to the state grant definition of "resident student. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S0184.3.html&session=ls86... More... ID Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Indian Education H.B. 640 Adds to existing law relating to education to provide definitions for tribal school and tribal education authority. Chapter 282 http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2010/H0640A1... More... SD Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Pilot Charter Schools S.B. 63 Provides for the establishment of a pilot charter school in the state if the Department of Education receives a federal grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to fund such school; provides the application plan process for any entity seeking to ... More... NM Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Community College Postsec. Dual Credit Program and Indian Education High Schools H.B. 90 Includes Federal Bureau of Indian Education high schools and tribal colleges in a dual credit program; includes charter schools and a bureau of Indian education high school; provides for payment of textbooks and supplies. http://nmlegis.gov/Sessions/10%20Regul... More... ND Signed into law 08/2009 Postsec. Community College Interplay Between State University System and Tribally Controlled Community Colleges H.B. 1566 Requires that the Commissioner of Higher Education study the interplay between the State University System and tribally controlled community colleges. Specifically, requires the commissioner to address ways in which the North Dakota university system as a whol... More... WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Native American Charter School A.B. 75 Provides that if a school board enters into an agreement with an American Indian tribe to establish a charter school, the board must, upon request, distribute to the parent or guardian of each student in the school a school and school district performance repo... More... WI Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Tribal Language Revitalization Grants A.B. 75 Permits a school board or cooperative educational service agency, in conjunction with a tribal education authority, to apply to the state department of education for a grant to support innovative, effective instruction in one or more American Indian languages.... More... MT Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Montana Tribe Names H.J.R. 27 Urges all educators, journalists, and public speakers in Montana to learn and use, when writing and speaking, the names of each tribe in Montana as used in the tribe's own language. http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billpdf/HJ0027.pdf... More... MN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Postsecondary Education S.B. 2942 Various provisions related to higher education. Allows educational data sharing between the department of education and the office of higher education as authorized by the code of federal regulations for the purpose of analyzing and improving school district i... More... SD Signed into law 02/2008 P-12 American Indian H.B. 1050 Revises certain provisions regarding Indian education; provides for teacher studies. http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2008/Bills/HB1050ENR.pdf... More... CA Vetoed 09/2007 P-12 native american S.B. 826 Requests the Regents of the University of California, acting through subject matter projects, to carry out specified responsibilities in existing law with respect to Native American education that are assigned to the State Librarian. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub... More... MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 American Indian Education H.F. 2245 [American Indians] Requires the commissioner to include the contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities as they relate to the academic standards during the review and revision of the required academic standards. Establishes an advisory task force on Minnes... More... MT Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Uses of Indian Education For All Payments S.B. 2A (American Indian) Prohibits a district receiving an Indian education for all payment from diverting the funds to any purpose other than curriculum development, providing curriculum and materials to students, and providing training to teachers about the curriculum and materials.... More... WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 First Peoples' Language and Culture Program S.B. 5269 Declares that government-to-government collaboration between the state and the sovereign tribal governments whose traditional lands and territories lie within the borders of the state of Washington serves to implement the spirit of the 1989 centennial accord a... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Indian Education Act H.B. 892/S.B. 1044 Amends the Indian Education Act. Clarifies the duties of the public education department to consult with Indian tribes. Changes the composition of the Indian Education Advisory Council. Directs the the department of education to collaborate and coordinate effo... More... NM Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Public Education Department Consulting with Tribes S.B. 1044 Amends the indian education act. Clarifies the duties of the public education department to consult with Indian tribes. Changes the composition of the Indian Education Advisory Council. Provides for duties of the Indian Education Division, that the funds appr... More... NM Signed into law 03/2007 Postsec. Community College College Affordability Scholarships at Tribal Colleges S.B. 355 Enables students at tribal colleges to receive scholarships under the College Affordability Act. Defines student eligibility and terms of scholarship. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/SB0355.pdf... More... SD Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Indian Education H.B. 1290 Provides for an Office of Indian Education and an Indian Education Advisory Council. Requires the Council to consist of representatives of all nine tribes in South Dakota along with Native American educators from all parts of the state; requires teachers new t... More... WY Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Wind River Indian Reservation Education Programs S.B. 72 Requires the governor to enter into negotiations with the individual or joint business councils of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Indian Tribes for contractual arrangements for the provision of education programs and services addressing Indian stude... More... MT Rule Adoption 12/2006 P-12 Quality Educator, At Risk Students and Indian Payments ARM 10.7.106, .106A, .113 through .115,10.10.301 to .315, 10.15.101, 10.16.3804, .3811, .3812, .3816, 10.20.102 to 10.30.415 Adopts and amends rules relating to quality educator payments, at-risk student payments - general fund, Indian education for all payments, American Indian achievement gap payments - general fund and school finance. http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/legaldivision/10-7... More... UT Adopted 11/2006 P-12 Non-traditional Student Participation in State Achievement Tests R277-604 Provides definitions, criteria and procedures for private school students, home school students, electronic high school (EHS) students, and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) students to participate in the state's public education school achievement tests required... More... WA Rule Adoption 10/2006 Postsec. Residency Tuition Requirement for Tribal Members WAC 250-18-020 Makes changes for "resident" status eligibility for tuition and fees for tribal members by striking a specific listing of eligible tribes and replacing it with a definition of eligible federally-recognized tribes whose traditional and customary tribal boundari... More... MT Adopted 09/2006 P-12 Science Content Standards and Performance Descriptors ARM 10.54.5010 through 10.54.5098 non-seq Proposes to amend rules relating to science content standards andperformance descriptors. Includes references to Montana Native Americans and science. http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/legaldivision/10-54-240adp-arm-adp.pdf... More... CA Signed into law 09/2006 P-12 American Indian Education Unit and Centers S.B. 1710 Relates to the American Indian Education Unit. Adds duties to the Unit and the State Department of Education. Authorizes American Indian education centers to improve the academic achievement of American Indian pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 and to pro... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Office of Indian Eduation S.B. 1363 Establishes the office of Indian education in the department of education; provides for personnel; provides for assistance to schools and Indian nations to develop culturally appropriate curricula and instructional materials; encourages parental involvement. h... More... SD Signed into law 02/2006 Postsec. Community College Resident Tuition for Students in Schools Operated by US Bureau of Indian Affairs S.B. 88 Adds a new section: Any student who is a graduate of an accredited high school operated by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs in the state is entitled to resident classification for the purposes of postsecondary education at a state supported instituti... More... OR Adopted 02/2006 P-12 Postsec. Definition of Resident OAR 575-060-0005 Amends rules regarding the definition of resident. Extends the definition of resident to include students who are enrolled members of federally recognized tribes of Oregon or who are enrolled members of a Native American tribe which had traditional and customa... More... NC Signed into law 07/2005 Postsec. Historically american indian university H.B. 371 AN ACT designating the university of north carolina at pembroke as North Carolina's historically american indian university. http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2005/Bills/House/HTML/H371v3.html... More... WA To governor 04/2005 P-12 Tribal History H.B. 1495 Encourages that Washington's tribal history be taught in the common schools. Also adds a new section that requires, beginning in 2006, and at least once annually through 2010, the Washington state school directors' association is encouraged to convene regional... More... NM Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 American Indian School Curriculum S.B. 215 Adds that the Indian education division shall: develop or select for implementation a challenging, sequential, culturally relevant curriculum to provide instruction to American Indian students in kindergarten through sixth grade to prepare them for pre-advance... More... MT Signed into law 03/2005 Postsec. Community College Nonbeneficiary Students H.B. 16 Relates to funding for nonbeneficiary students attending tribally controlled community colleges. http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2005/billhtml/HB0016.htm... More... CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Racial Mascots Act A.B. 858 Establishes the Racial Mascots Act. Prohibits public schools from using the term Redskins as a school or athletic team name, mascot, or nickname. Provides that the act does not apply to a school or campus if certain conditions regarding prior expenditures on u... More... ND Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 Educator's Professional License NDAC 67.1-02-02-, -04, -05, -07, -09 Establishes rules regarding initial licenses, distance learning instructor - definition - qualifications - licensure, two-year and five-year renewals, professional development for license renewal, multicultural education and native american studies, and reentr... More... HI Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Study on Host Culture Charter School District S.B. 3148 Requires a study of the feasibility of establishing a host culture charter school district and a charter school district in order to solidify existing host culture focused charter schools, increase charter school autonomy, and provide opportunities for additio... More... HI Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Hawaiian Language Program H.B. 2667 Establishes a Hawaiian language medium education program. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb2667_cd1_.htm... More... AZ Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Native American History S.B. 1365 Provides an additional duty of incorporating instruction of Native American history into appropriate existing curricula; provides that the instruction curriculum for all schools shall include the history of Native Americans in Arizona. http://www.azleg.state.a... More... AZ Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 State Board for Charter Schools H.B. 2580 Amends the membership of the State Board for Charter Schools to include at least one resident of an Indian reservation, a charter school teacher, and an operator of a charter school. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/46leg/2r/laws... More... NM Pocket Veto by GOVERNOR. 04/2003 P-12 Indian Education Act H.B. 150 Enacts the Indian Education Act; prescribes powers and duties. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/FinalVersions/house/HB0150AFS.pdf... More... NM Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Indian Education Act S.B. 115 Enacts the Indian Education Act; prescribes powers and duties including the creation of an Indian education division in the department of education with an assistant superintendent for Indian education and the establishment of an Indian education advisory coun... More... AZ Rejected by voters 11/2002 Postsec. Tribal State Gaming Compact, College Scholarship and Elderly Care Act of 2002 Proposition 200 Creates the Tribal State Gaming Compact, College Scholarship and Elderly Care Act of 2002; allows Indian tribes to contribute a portion of gaming revenues to fund college scholarships and to provide additional resources for elderly care. (http://www.sosaz.com/... More... ID Approved by voters 11/2002 P-12 An initiative defining tribal video gaming machines and providing for amendment of state-tribal gaming compact providing for their use. Proposition 1 Indian Gaming and Self-Reliance Act provides a tribal contribution of 5% of annual net gaming income for educational programs and schools on or near the reservations; limiting gaming to Indian lands. (http://www.idsos.state.id.us/elect/inits/02init01.htm) ... More... ID Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 Tribal language teaching S.B. 1411 Creates new section relating the importance of native language preservation, and providing that the State Board of Education will adopt rules authorizing American Indian language teachers in the public schools.... More... NM Vetoed 03/2002 P-12 Indian Education Act S.B. 198 Enacts to the Indian Education Act. Creates the "Indian education division" within the department of education to (A.) provide assistance to school districts and tribes to meet the educational needs of American Indian students; (B.) provide assistance to scho... More... NM Vetoed 02/2002 P-12 Indian Education Act H.B. 28 Enacts the Indian Education Act; prescribes powers and duties. The purpose of the Indian Education Act is to: (A) ensure equitable educational opportunities for American Indian students residing in New Mexico; (B) ensure maintenance of native languages; (C) d... More... NM Signed into law 02/2002 P-12 Native American Language Teachers H.B. 204 Provides for a Native American Language Teacher certificate.... More... CA Signed into law 09/2001 P-12 Indian Education Program S.B. 1031 Extends the Indian Education Program until 2007. Requires each California Indian education center, as a condition of receipt of annual funding, to collect and report site evaluation data that measure prescribed items. Requires each center to submit an evaluati... More... CA Vetoed 09/2000 P-12 Indian Education Center Program A.B. 1746 Makes it the goal, subject to an appropriation for those purposes in the annual Budget Act, of California Indian education centers, in addition to those specified in existing law, to also provide recovery education programs for pupils who have dropped out of c... More... AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Joint Legislative Study Committee on Reservation Schools H.B. 2579 Establishes a 13 member Joint Legislative Study Committee on Reservation Schools which is repealed December 31, 2000; charges the committee with the following duties: to examine current methods of delivering educational services to pupils in K-12 who reside on... More...