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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING AMERICAN

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INDIAN AND ALASKAN NATIVE EDUCATION STATE

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PLAN

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2016 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Kevin T. Van Tassell

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House Sponsor: Jack R. Draxler

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9     LONG TITLE
10     Committee Note:
11          The Native American Legislative Liaison Committee recommended this resolution.
12     General Description:
13          This concurrent resolution supports the creation of an American Indian and Alaskan
14     Native Education State Plan.
15     Highlighted Provisions:
16          This resolution:
17          ▸     supports eliminating the achievement gap for American Indian and Alaskan Native
18     students;
19          ▸     outlines the need for a state plan;
20          ▸     provides for the state plan; and
21          ▸     provides for distribution of the resolution.
22     Special Clauses:
23          None
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25     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
26          WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaskan Native students are an important asset to the
27     state's public school system;

28          WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaskan Native students can meet the high
29     expectations of any student within the state's public school system;
30          WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaskan Native students as a group are consistently
31     scoring low on measures of educational achievement;
32          WHEREAS, an American Indian-Alaskan Native Education Commission was formed
33     to develop a state plan to address this educational achievement gap; and
34          WHEREAS, the American Indian-Alaskan Native Education Commission developed a
35     state plan subject to review by the Native American Legislative Liaison Committee and the
36     final approval of the State Board of Education:
37          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
38     Governor concurring therein, expresses support for eliminating the achievement gap for
39     American Indian and Alaskan Native students within the state's public school system.
40          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state eliminate the achievement gap through a
41     state plan that consists of a pilot program implemented through statute and implementation of
42     the resolution statements of this concurrent resolution.
43          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Board of Education and local education
44     agencies:
45          (1) build administrative support within the public school system for high expectations
46     of American Indian and Alaskan Native students;
47          (2) work to strengthen tribal support for state initiatives to reach American Indian and
48     Alaskan Native students, including the development and enhancement of curriculum that is
49     historically and culturally accurate and sensitive and fosters the protection of heritage
50     languages;
51          (3) work cooperatively with tribal governments to address sharing of education
52     information regarding American Indian and Alaskan Native students, subject to the
53     confidentiality restrictions imposed under federal law;
54          (4) increase parental, school personnel, and community support and participation for
55     programs that foster educational achievement by American Indian and Alaskan Native
56     students; and
57          (5) build statewide collaborations to address, and create statewide awareness of, the
58     needs of American Indian and Alaskan Native children, including understanding of social,

59     cultural, and holistic educational needs and the role of tribal sovereignty.
60          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this concurrent resolution be sent to the
     61     State Board of Education, the executive and legislative leaders of the eight tribes within Utah,
     62     and the American Indian-Alaskan Native Public Education Liaison.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel