WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE EDUCATION

FACT SHEET

BRIEF BACKGROUND

The White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education (Initiative) leads the President’s Executive 

Order 13592, signed December 2, 2011, Improving American Indian and Alaska Native Educational Opportunities and 

Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities. The Initiative, located within the Department of Education, seeks to 

support activities that will strengthen the Nation by expanding education opportunities and improving education 

outcomes for all American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students. It is committed to furthering tribal selfdetermination and ensuring AIAN students, at all levels of education, have an opportunity to learn their Native 

languages and histories, receive complete and competitive educations, preparing them for college, careers, and 

productive and satisfying lives.

FUNCTIONS

 Works closely with the Executive Office of the President to help ensure AIAN participation in the development 

and implementation of key Administration priorities;

 Strengthens the relationship between the Department of Education, Office of Indian Education, and the 

Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Education, to draw upon each agencies’ expertise and resources to 

help improve AIAN education;

 Furthers tribal sovereignty by supporting efforts, consistent with applicable law, to build the capacity of tribal 

educational agencies and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to provide high-quality education services to 

AIAN children;

 Develops sufficient data resources to inform progress on Federal performance indicators, in close collaboration 

with the National Center for Educational Statistics;

 Encourages and coordinates Federal partnerships with public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit entities to 

help increase the readiness of AIAN students for school, college, and careers, and to help increase the number 

and percentage of AIAN students complete college;

 Coordinates the overall implementation of the Executive Order and the development of the federal four-year 

plans and annual federal agency reporting, and hold federal agencies accountable for fulfilling requirements of 

the Executive Order, submitting plans, and addressing emerging needs of AIAN academic achievement;

 Coordinates frequent consultations with tribal officials and provides support to the National Advisory Council on 

Indian Education;

 Develops a national network of individuals, organizations, and communities to share best practices in AIAN 

education and encouraging them to implement these practices;

 Increases the number and percentage of AIAN students who have access to excellent teachers and school 

leaders, including effective science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, language, and special education 

teachers, in part by supporting efforts to improve the recruitment, development, and retention of effective 

AIAN teachers and other effective teachers and school leaders, particularly through TCUs.

INITIATIVE ADMINISTRATION

 The Initiative is led by an Executive Director – William Mendoza

 The Initiative Office:

o Associate Director – Sedelta Oosahwee

o Chief of Staff - Vacant