2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution supports the creation of an American Indian and Alaskan
12 Native Education State Plan.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ supports eliminating the achievement gap for American Indian and Alaskan Native
16 students;
17 ▸ outlines the need for a state plan;
18 ▸ provides for the state plan; and
19 ▸ provides for distribution of the resolution.
20 Special Clauses:
21 None
22
23 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
24 WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaskan Native students are an important asset to the
25 state's public school system;
26 WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaskan Native students can meet the high
27 expectations of any student within the state's public school system;
28 WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaskan Native students as a group are consistently
29 scoring low on measures of educational achievement;
30 WHEREAS, an American Indian-Alaskan Native Education Commission was formed
31 to develop a state plan to address this educational achievement gap; and
32 WHEREAS, the American Indian-Alaskan Native Education Commission developed a
33 state plan subject to review by the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee and the
34 final approval of the State Board of Education:
35 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
36 Governor concurring therein, expresses support for eliminating the achievement gap for
37 American Indian and Alaskan Native students within the state's public school system.
38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state eliminate the achievement gap through a
39 state plan that consists of a pilot program implemented through statute and implementation of
40 the resolution statements of this concurrent resolution.
41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Board of Education and local education
42 agencies:
43 (1) build administrative support within the public school system for high expectations
44 of American Indian and Alaskan Native students;
45 (2) work to strengthen tribal support for state initiatives to reach American Indian and
46 Alaskan Native students, including the development and enhancement of curriculum that is
47 historically and culturally accurate and sensitive and fosters the protection of heritage
48 languages;
49 (3) work cooperatively with tribal governments to address sharing of education
50 information regarding American Indian and Alaskan Native students, subject to the
51 confidentiality restrictions imposed under federal law;
52 (4) increase parental, school personnel, and community support and participation for
53 programs that foster educational achievement by American Indian and Alaskan Native
54 students; and
55 (5) build statewide collaborations to address, and create statewide awareness of, the
56 needs of American Indian and Alaskan Native children, including understanding of social,
57 cultural, and holistic educational needs and the role of tribal sovereignty.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this concurrent resolution be sent to the
59 State Board of Education, the executive and legislative leaders of the eight tribes within Utah,
60 and the American Indian-Alaskan Native Public Education Liaison.