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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