Indian Basic Education Act

Summary

Indian Basic Education Act - Provides for Federal financial assistance to local school systems providing free education to Indian reservation children under the Indian Elementary and Secondary School Assistance Act, if the systems submit plans, drawn with the participation of local tribal representatives and approved by the Commissioner of Education, which provide educational standards which meet the unique needs of the Indian tribe as well as promote good education. Provides for the coordination of such plans with existing State programs and standards, with other funding programs, and with ongoing evaluation and review by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and local Indians. Provides for the education of Indian children, with similar funding, in BIA or Indian controlled schools when an approved plan is not adopted. Directs the Assistant Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare for Education, in consultation with government agencies and Indian interest groups, to establish guidelines for the basic education of children in BIA schools. Provides the BIA, upon request by tribal leaders, with continuing authority to adjust the regulations to the needs of individual tribes. Directs the Assistant Secretary to develop cost guidelines for boarding BIA students. Requires the BIA to implement these guidelines and to bring BIA facilities into compliance with the Education of All Handicapped Act, and Federal or State health and safety standards. Establishes the Office of Indian Education Programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to exercise the BIA's functions relating to the daily direction, supervision and expenditure of Federal funds for Indian education. Provides for the establishment of Office's policies and procedures by the Office Director and the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Directs the Office to establish and implement allotment formulas and funding systems for BIA and Indian-controlled schools. Dictates that the BIA's policy shall be to foster Indian control of Indian education. Defines the rights and status of new and existing employees of BIA and Indian-controlled schools. Directs the Assistant Secretary to define the qualifications and policies for hiring educational personnel and to hire such personnel at the most local level that is consistent with good management policy. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a computerized management system providing complete school and community information relevant to these programs. Directs the Office to develop and submit to the Bureau and appropriate congressional committees a draft set of education procedures and practices for the Bureau, such draft set to be promulgated by the Office Director within one year of enactment of this Act. Directs the Assistant Secretary to prepare: (1) uniform procedures and practises for all BIA divisions insofar as they relate to education; (2) a recruitment policy for Indian educators; and (3) annual progress reports on Bureau education and local Indian control. Authorizes appropriations for these provisions. Provides for the coordination of this Act with the Indian Elementary and Secondary School Assistance and the General Education Provisions Acts. Requires preliminary submission to Congress of all regulations drafted under this Act.

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Timeline

1. 16 September 1977

   Introduced

   Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 16 September 1977

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 16 September 1977

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 16 September 1977

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Blouin, Michael [D-IA-2] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Quie, Albert H. [R-MN-1] · R · Cosponsor
• · hsed00 · Standing

Related records

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