IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 405 

Calling on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation to 

modify its accreditation standards to prevent the standards from negatively impacting Alaska Native and American Indian teacher candidates. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 29, 2015 

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska (for himself and Mr. TAKAI) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 

Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Calling on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator 

Preparation to modify its accreditation standards to prevent the standards from negatively impacting Alaska Native and American Indian teacher candidates. 

Whereas Alaska Natives and American Indians are underrepresented in the profession of teaching; 

Whereas Alaska Native and American Indian students benefit 

academically from the cultural perspectives of Alaska Native and American Indian teachers; 

Whereas Alaska Native and American Indian teachers often 

serve as positive role models for Alaska Native and 

American Indian students; 


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•HRES 405 IH 

Whereas increasing the number of Alaska Native and American Indian teachers working in native communities empowers tribes, benefits native youth, and strengthens tribal self-sufficiency; 

Whereas the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation is the sole accrediting body for educator preparation programs at institutions in the United States; 

Whereas the Council approved new accreditation standards in 

2013 and plans for the standards to be fully implemented 

by 2016; 

Whereas the Council’s 2013 accreditation standards require 

that institutions, when accepting candidates to their 

schools of education, ensure that the group average performance on assessments such as the ACT and SAT is— 

(1) in the top 50 percent from 2016–2017; 

(2) in the top 40 percent of the distribution from 

2018–2019; and 

(3) in the top 33 percent of the distribution by 

2020; 

Whereas because of social and economic barriers, the average 

ACT and SAT scores of Alaska Natives and American 

Indians are disproportionately lower than other categories 

of students; 

Whereas Alaska Native and American Indian students have 

disproportionately inadequate access to exam preparation 

opportunities and 21st century technology and are less 

likely to take the ACT or SAT than other categories of 

students; 

Whereas no definitive research or data has shown that performance on the SAT or ACT is an effective indicator of 


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•HRES 405 IH 

a prospective student’s likelihood of success in an educator preparation program or as a teacher; 

Whereas the Council’s 2013 accreditation standards will force 

institutions to accept fewer Alaska Native and American 

Indian students in order to retain their accreditation, resulting in continued low representation of Alaska Natives 

and American Indians serving as teachers; 

Whereas the Federal Government has a trust responsibility to 

support the education of Alaska Natives and American 

Indians; and 

Whereas the Council should recognize the negative impact of 

its standards on Alaska Native and American Indian 

teacher candidates: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls on 

2 the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation 

3 to— 

4 (1) consult with tribes and native organizations; 

5 (2) jointly develop changes to its accreditation 

6 standards to ensure that Alaska Native and Amer7 ican Indian teacher candidates will not be negatively 

8 impacted by such standards; and 

9 (3) adopt changes to its accreditation standards 

10 expeditiously. 

Æ 


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