Revising the Management of Native American Schools

Press Release

The full committee held a hearing today to address the deteriorating state of Native youth education. The hearing entitled "Examining the Federal Government's Mismanagement of Native American Schools" is the second hearing the subcommittee has held this year to facilitate tangible and long-lasting change in the management of American Indian/ Alaska Native (AI/AN) schools. Ranking Member of the full Committee on Education and the Workforce, Representative Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) argued that the challenges facing AI/AN students require a comprehensive and coordinated commitment across multiple agencies.

"I look forward to hearing more about this comprehensive approach that includes work from the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and the Interior," said Ranking Member Scott. "The federal government holds a special trust with tribal nations. Treaties, laws, and court decisions require the federal government to protect tribal lands and sovereignty, but not to let these children fall behind."

William (Bill) Mendoza, the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, served as the Democratic witness at today's hearing. Mr. Mendoza has been a leader on key Administration initiatives, such as the Executive Order 13592, Tribal Leaders Speak -- The State of Indian Education 2010 Report, the State-Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Pilot, and the 2012 ED-DOI Memorandum of Understanding. His testimony today discussed the White House initiative entitled Generation Indigenous, which takes a comprehensive approach to Native youth problems and is bringing together all of the aforementioned agencies.

"It is important to note that only about 8 percent of Indian students attend schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) or by Indian Tribes or tribal organizations," said Mendoza. "The vast majority of Indian students -- more than 90% -- attend public schools operated by their local school districts, on and off reservations and tribal lands, and served by programs funded by the Department of Education."

Overall, current policy is not meeting the needs of Native American students, and data on academic outcomes for AI/AN students is very troubling. Ranking Member Scott is committed to creating comprehensive solutions to these difficult tasks, but all of Congress must work together for positive reforms to support AI/AN students.

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