Friday, Oct 28 2011 3:55PM
The Act, according to the Congressional Research Service, establishes an Indian School Turn Around grant program to assist tribes in implementing transformation, restart or turnaround school intervention models at low-performing Native American schools.
The United States Senate Indian Affairs Committee recently approved the Native Culture, Language and Access for Success in Schools (Native CLASS) Act.
The Act, according to the Congressional Research Service, establishes an Indian School Turn Around grant program to assist tribes in implementing transformation, restart or turnaround school intervention models at low-performing Native American schools.
It also states to develop standards-based assessment and classroom lessons that accommodate diverse learning styles.
"This comprehensive bill outlines a new vision of education built on Native priorities … To build a successful future for our Native communities, we must start with success in our schools," said committee Chairman Daniel Akaka, who introduced the bill.
According to Akaka, three federal government reports on Native education have shown little or no improvement in the education of Native people in the past 80 years. In addition, they tend to have lower graduation rates than other ethnic groups.
When putting the bill forward, he described it as adopting a vision of education based on local community control and embracing Native culture and language to encourage and allow tribes to take a more active role in their own education systems.
For further reference, check out this source:
The United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs