The state of Indian education tells the story about the future of Indian nations. After years of abandonment, the federal government has begun to invest in infrastructure, teaching, language programs and other assets to convey and build hope and promise among Native youth. What’s the story now?
The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) owns 183 schools on or near Indian reservations and trust lands. Of the 183 schools, 78 have been assessed to be in poor condition. That means that they are 50 years old or older, and that at least 75 percent of the students are taught in “portable” buildings. In some, the roofs and windows leak and in some the ceilings are falling in. Many schools in cold areas are unheated, and many in desert-like or other hot climates lack air conditioning.
Under the 2001 “No Child Left Behind” Act, the Secretary of Education was directed to set up a negotiated rule-making process in which an appointed federal-tribal committee would establish criteria to determine which of the 183 Indian schools would be reconstructed or replaced. That committee was finally appointed eight years later, and by 2011, the committee was able to issue its report: Broken Promises, Broken Schools. The report detailed a careful planning and priority process, and called for an investment of $1.3 billion to repair or rebuild all of the “poor condition” schools.
In 2004, prior to the committee’s work, the BIE had selected 10 schools for reconstruction. The last of those schools is just being completed this year – 13 years later. Now a new list of ten has been announced, and those schools have been promised replacements. While no new funds for school re-construction were appropriated last year, the BIE was able to use remaining funds to complete work on the 2004 list, and to begin planning with local schools that are on the 2016 list.
The President’s budget would cut $45.5 million from the Indian School Replacement budget line, and another $7.5 million from other Indian education construction accounts (including repair.) The Administration calls on the BIE to produce a comprehensive plan and timetable for reconstruction of all the dilapidated schools. However, the budget proposal provides no additional funds for school replacement over the next five years – so the plans that the BIE and the local schools might hope to make this year have would have no commitment of financial support in the out years.
In addition to the lack of support for physically adequate schools,the President’s budget proposes to cut another $213.4 million from support for Indian education – $105 million from the BIE, and another $108.4 million from the Department of Education. The BIE provides core support for what goes on in the 183 BIE schools and helps to fund programs that range from early childhood education to post graduate fellowships. It also supports tribal colleges and universities, and programs in schools and colleges with significant Indian student populations, in part through the Johnson-O’Malley program. The Department of Education provides supplemental funding and special programs for Tribal Colleges and Universities and offers grants to local education agencies and to non-tribal colleges serving Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The Department also supports school improvement for Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian children, as well as native language and college readiness programs.
The Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, will consider the funding for BIE schools and related programs, along with a number of other programs significant to Indian Country. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education will consider the programs offered through the Department of Education. See the members of these committees here.