US Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing on Native Success in Classrooms

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Indian Affairs

NATIVE BRIEF:WASHINGTON DC - US Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, introduced a bill to improve the education of Native people, the Native Culture, Language and Access for Success in Schools (Native CLASS) Act.

"In many regions of our country, Native students suffer from the lowest graduation rates and poorest academic performance," said Chairman Akaka. "This comprehensive bill outlines a new vision of education built on Native priorities. As a former teacher, principal and administrator, I know the power that integrating culture and increasing access to opportunities can have in improving outcomes for our Native students. To build a successful future for our Native communities, we must start with success in our schools."

The Native CLASS Act (S. 1262) contains a comprehensive set of provisions that address language and culture-based education, local control and parental involvement, and teacher training and development.

The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Tim Johnson (D-North Dakota) and Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii).

American Indian experts will make testimony today on education issues in Indian Country will be given to the US Senate Committee Indian Affairs.

The hearing is called the "Native Culture, Language, and Access for Success in Schools Act (Native CLASS)", the proposed Senate bill mentioned above.

WHEN:     Thursday, June 30

TIME:     2:15 pm edt

WHERE:   Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 628
Washington DC

Here is the link to the Live Webcast »

Witnesses

Mr. William Mendoza, Acting Director, White House Initiative on Tribal Colleges and Universities

Mr. Keith Moore, Director, Bureau of Indian Education, US Department of the Interior

The Honorable Cedric Cromwell, Board of Directors, United South and Eastern Tribes/Chairman, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

Mr. Scott Russell, Rocky Mountain Region Area Vice President, National Congress of American Indians/Secretary, Crow Tribe, Crow Agency, Montana

Ms. Amy Bowers, Staff Attorney, Native American Rights Fund

Ms. Dayna Brave Eagle, Tribal Education Department, Oglala Sioux Tribe

Ms. Jessica Imotichey, Senior Policy Analyst, Chickasaw Nation

To view the Senate Bill »

update June 30, 2011 11:26 am edt; posted June 30, 2011 8:23 am et