20 USC 7441 - Improvement of educational opportunities for Indian children and youth

Collapse to view only § 7441. Improvement of educational opportunities for Indian children and youth

§ 7441. Improvement of educational opportunities for Indian children and youth
§ 7442. Professional development for teachers and education professionals

§ 7441. Improvement of educational opportunities for Indian children and youth

(a) Purpose

(1) In general

(2) Coordination

The Secretary shall take the necessary actions to achieve the coordination of activities assisted under this subpart with—

(A) other programs funded under this chapter; and

(B) other Federal programs operated for the benefit of Indian children and youth.

(b) Eligible entities

The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out activities that meet the purpose of this section, including—

(1) innovative programs related to the educational needs of educationally disadvantaged Indian children and youth;

(2) educational services that are not available to such children and youth in sufficient quantity or quality, including remedial instruction, to raise the achievement of Indian children in one or more of the subjects of English, mathematics, science, foreign languages, art, history, and geography;

(3) bilingual and bicultural programs and projects;

(4) special health and nutrition services, and other related activities, that address the special health, social, and psychological problems of Indian children and youth;

(5) special compensatory and other programs and projects designed to assist and encourage Indian children and youth to enter, remain in, or reenter school, and to increase the rate of high school graduation for Indian children and youth;

(6) comprehensive guidance, counseling, and testing services;

(7) early childhood education programs that are effective in preparing young children to make sufficient academic growth by the end of grade 3, including kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs, family-based preschool programs that emphasize school readiness, screening and referral, and the provision of services to Indian children and youth with disabilities;

(8) partnership projects between local educational agencies and institutions of higher education that allow secondary school students to enroll in courses at the postsecondary level to aid such students in the transition from secondary to postsecondary education;

(9) partnership projects between schools and local businesses for career preparation programs designed to provide Indian youth with the knowledge and skills such youth need to make an effective transition from school to a high-skill career;

(10) programs designed to encourage and assist Indian students to work toward, and gain entrance into, institutions of higher education;

(11) family literacy services;

(12) activities that recognize and support the unique cultural and educational needs of Indian children and youth, and incorporate traditional leaders;

(13) high-quality professional development of teaching professionals and paraprofessionals; or

(14) other services that meet the purpose described in this section.

(d) Grant requirements and applications

(1) Grant requirements

(A) In general

(B) Priority

(2) Dissemination grants

(A) In general

(B) Determination

The Secretary may award a dissemination grant described in this paragraph if, prior to awarding the grant, the Secretary determines that the material or program to be disseminated—

(i) has been adequately reviewed;

(ii) has demonstrated educational merit; and

(iii) can be replicated.

(3) Application

(A) In general

(B) Contents

Each application submitted to the Secretary under subparagraph (A), other than an application for a dissemination grant under paragraph (2), shall contain—

(i) a description of how parents and family of Indian children and representatives of Indian tribes have been, and will be, involved in developing and implementing the activities for which assistance is sought;

(ii) assurances that the applicant will participate, at the request of the Secretary, in any national evaluation of activities assisted under this section;

(iii) information demonstrating that the proposed program is an evidence-based program, where applicable, which may include a program that has been modified to be culturally appropriate for students who will be served;

(iv) a description of how the applicant will incorporate the proposed activities into the ongoing school program involved once the grant period is over; and

(v) such other assurances and information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(e) Administrative costs

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6121, formerly title VII, § 7121, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1919; renumbered title VI, § 6121, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), 6002(k), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2054.)

§ 7442. Professional development for teachers and education professionals

(a) PurposesThe purposes of this section are—

(1) to increase the number of qualified Indian teachers and administrators serving Indian students;

(2) to provide pre- and in-service training and support to qualified Indian individuals to enable such individuals to become effective teachers, principals, other school leaders, administrators, paraprofessionals, counselors, social workers, and specialized instructional support personnel;

(3) to improve the skills of qualified Indian individuals who serve in the capacities described in paragraph (2); and

(4) to develop and implement initiatives to promote retention of effective teachers, principals, and school leaders who have a record of success in helping low-achieving Indian students improve their academic achievement, outcomes, and preparation for postsecondary education or employment.

(b) Eligible entitiesFor the purpose of this section, the term “eligible entity” means—

(1) an institution of higher education, including a Tribal College or University, as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title;

(2) a State educational agency or local educational agency, in consortium with an institution of higher education;

(3) an Indian tribe or organization, in consortium with an institution of higher education; and

(4) a Bureau-funded school (as defined in section 2026 1

1 See References in Text note below.

of title 25) in a consortium with at least one Tribal College or University, as defined in section 1059c(b) of this title, where feasible.

(d) Authorized activities

(1) In generalGrant funds under this section shall be used for activities to provide support and training for Indian individuals in a manner consistent with the purpose of this section. Such activities may include—

(A) continuing education programs, symposia, workshops, and conferences;

(B) teacher mentoring programs, professional guidance, and instructional support provided by educators, local traditional leaders, or cultural experts, as appropriate for teachers during their first 3 years of employment as teachers;

(D) programs designed to train traditional leaders and cultural experts to assist those personnel referenced in subsection (a)(2), as appropriate, with relevant Native language and cultural mentoring, guidance, and support.

(2) Special rules

(A) Type of training

(B) Program

(e) ApplicationEach eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require. At a minimum, an application under this section shall describe how the eligible entity will—

(1) recruit qualified Indian individuals, such as students who may not be of traditional college age, to become teachers, principals, or school leaders;

(2) use funds made available under the grant to support the recruitment, preparation, and professional development of Indian teachers or principals in local educational agencies that serve a high proportion of Indian students; and

(3) assist participants in meeting the requirements under subsection (h).

(f) Special ruleIn awarding grants under this section, the Secretary—

(1) may give priority to Tribal Colleges and Universities;

(2) shall consider the prior performance of the eligible entity; and

(3) may not limit eligibility to receive a grant under this section on the basis of the length of any period for which the eligible entity has received a grant.

(g) Grant period

(h) Service obligation

(1) In generalThe Secretary shall require, by regulation, that an individual who receives training pursuant to a grant made under this section—

(A) perform work—

(i) related to the training received under this section; and

(ii) that benefits Indian students in a local educational agency that serves a high proportion of Indian students; or

(B) repay all or a prorated part of the assistance received.

(2) Reporting

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6122, formerly title VII, § 7122, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1922; renumbered title VI, § 6122, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), 6002(l), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2056.)