Building upon Unique Indian Learning and Development Act

To strengthen Indian education, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building upon Unique Indian Learning and Development Act 2. In-school facility innovation program contest (a) In general The Secretary of the Interior shall— (1) establish an in-school facility innovation program contest in which institutions of higher education, including Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c (2) establish an advisory group for the contest described in paragraph (1) that shall include students enrolled at a Tribal College or University, a representative from the Bureau of Indian Education, and engineering and fiscal advisors. (b) Submission of finalists to the Indian Affairs Committee The Secretary of the Interior shall submit the finalists to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate. (c) Winners The Secretary of the Interior shall— (1) determine the winners of the program contest conducted under this section; and (2) award the winners appropriate recognition and reward. 3. Department of the Interior and Department of Education Joint Oversight Board (a) In general The Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Interior shall jointly establish a Department of the Interior and Department of Education Joint Oversight Board that shall— (1) be co-chaired by both Departments; and (2) coordinate technical assistance, resource distribution, and capacity building between the 2 departments on the education of and for Native American students. (b) Information To be shared The Joint Oversight Board shall facilitate the communication, collaboration, and coordination between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Education regarding education policies, access to and eligibility for Federal resources, budget and school leadership development, and other issues, as appropriate. 4. Improve support for teachers and administrators of Native American students Subpart 2 of part A of title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7441 et seq. 7123. Teacher and administrator pipeline for teachers and administrators of Native American students (a) Grants authorized The Secretary shall award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to create or expand a teacher or administrator, or both, pipeline for teachers and administrators of Native American students. (b) Eligible entity In this section, the term eligible entity (1) a local educational agency; (2) an institution of higher education; (3) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965); or (4) a nonprofit organization. (c) Priority In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965). (d) Activities An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall create a program that shall prepare, recruit, and provide continuing education for teachers and administrators of Native American students, in particular for teachers of— (1) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; (2) subjects that lead to health professions; and (3) green skills and middle skills (e) Incentives for teachers and administrators An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may provide incentives to teachers and principals who make a commitment to serve high-need, high-poverty, tribal schools, including in the form of scholarships, loan forgiveness, incentive pay, or housing allowances. (f) School and community orientation An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall develop an evidence-based, culturally-based school and community orientation for new teachers and administrators of Native American students. . 5. Native American student support (a) Standards-Based assessments Section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(3) (E) Standards-based education assessments Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a State, in consultation with Indian tribes or Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965), shall develop standards-based education assessments and classroom lessons to accommodate diverse learning styles, which assessments may be used by the State in place of the general assessments described in subparagraph (A). . (b) Support The Secretary of Education shall expand programs for Native American school children— (1) to provide support for learning in the children's Native language and culture; and (2) to provide English language instruction. (c) Research The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct research on culture- and language-based education to identify the factors that improve education and health outcomes. (d) Native language teaching Section 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 20 U.S.C. 6319 (m) Qualifications for Native language teachers (1) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirements of subsection (a) for local educational agencies and States with respect to highly qualified teachers shall not apply to a teacher of a Native language. (2) Alternative licensure or certification Each State educational agency receiving assistance under this part shall, through collaboration with Indian tribes or Tribal Colleges and Universities (as defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965), as appropriate, develop a licensure or certification process for teachers of a Native language. . (e) Reauthorization of the grant program To ensure the survival and continuing vitality of native american languages Section 816(e) of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 2992d(e) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 6. Increased access to resources for tribal schools, schools served by the Bureau of Indian Education, and Native American students (a) Reservation for Bureau-Funded Schools and Programs and Schools Operated by a Tribe or Tribal Organization (1) In General The Secretary of Education shall ensure that any program administered by the Department of Education that awards grants, contracts, or other assistance to benefit elementary schools and secondary schools (as such terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (A) Bureau-funded schools (as defined in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. 2021 (B) Prekindergarten programs or early childhood programs or services operated by a tribe or Indian organization (as defined in such section). (C) Elementary schools or secondary schools operated by a tribe or Indian organization (as defined in such section). (2) Amount of Reservation (A) Existing Reservation of Funds In the case of a grant, contract, or assistance program provided by the Department of Education to benefit elementary schools and secondary schools (as such terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (i) if the existing reservation of funds is for an amount that is less than 0.5 percent, the amount of such reservation shall be increased to 0.5 percent; and (ii) if the existing reservation of funds is for an amount that is equal to or greater than 0.5 percent, the amount of such reservation shall be maintained. (B) No Existing Reservation of Funds In the case of a grant, contract, or assistance program provided by the Department of Education to benefit elementary schools and secondary schools (as such terms are defined in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (3) Use of Reserved Funds Funds reserved under this section shall be used in accordance with the uses of funds described for each particular grant, contract, or assistance program. In addition to program support, such reserved funds may be used, in an amount determined by the Secretary of Education, for technical assistance or capacity building to ensure that the schools or programs described in paragraph (1) are provided the assistance to compete for such grants, contracts, or other assistance. (4) Effect on Other Laws The Secretary of Education shall carry out this subsection notwithstanding any other provision of law. (b) Safe and healthy schools for Native American students Subpart 2 of part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7131 et seq. 4131. Safe and healthy schools for Native American students From funds made available to carry out this subpart, the Secretary shall— (1) establish a program to improve school environments and student skill development for healthy choices for Native American students, including— (A) prevention regarding— (i) alcohol and drug misuse; (ii) suicide; (iii) violence; (iv) pregnancy; and (v) obesity; (B) nutritious eating programs; and (C) anger and conflict management programs; (2) establish a program for school dropout prevention for Native American students; and (3) collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture to establish tribal-school specific school gardens and nutrition programs that are within the tribal cultural context. . 7. Funds for Impact Aid In addition to amounts otherwise appropriated to carry out title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7701 et seq. (1) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2016. (2) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2017. (3) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2018. 8. Forward Funding for Tribal Colleges For carrying out the following programs, there are authorized to be appropriated $31,500,000 for fiscal year 2016 which shall become available on July 1, 2016, and shall remain available through September 30, 2017: (1) Programs under title V of the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. 1861 et seq. (2) The Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development established under the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Culture and Art Development Act ( 20 U.S.C. 4401 et seq. (3) Institutional operations grants for the Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute under the authority of the Act of November 2, 1921 ( 25 U.S.C. 13 (4) Scholarships and adult education and special higher education scholarships under the authority of the Act of November 2, 1921 ( 25 U.S.C. 13 9. Definition of Tribal School (a) ESEA Definition Section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (44) Tribal School The term tribal school (A) a school that is a Bureau-funded school, as defined in section 1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 ( 25 U.S.C. 2021 (B) a prekindergarten program, early childhood program or service, or elementary school or secondary school, operated by an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 450b (C) a school that is located on Indian lands (as defined in section 8013); or (D) a school in which a predominance of the students who attend the school are Native American or Alaska Native students, as determined by the Secretary. . (b) Definition for this Act In this Act, the term tribal school 20 U.S.C. 7801

Summary: Building upon Unique Indian Learning and Development Act Directs the Department of the Interior to establish a contest to encourage institutions of higher education (IHEs) to consider how to improve Indian school facilities. Requires the Department of Education (ED) and Interior to establish a Joint Oversight Board to coordinate Indian education policies and assistance. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to award grants to create or expand pipelines for teachers and administrators of Native American students. Requires states receiving grants under part A of title I of the ESEA (Education for the Disadvantaged) to develop standards-based assessments and classroom lessons that accommodate diverse learning styles. Expands programs for Native American school children to support learning in the children's Native language and culture and provide English language instruction. Exempts Native language teachers from qualification requirement. Requires states to develop an alternative licensure or certification process for those teachers. Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to extend through FY2019 the grant program to ensure the survival and continuing vitality of Native American languages. Requires ED to: (1) improve school environments and student skill development for Native American students, (2) establish a program for school dropout prevention for Native American students, and (3) collaborate with the Department of Agriculture to establish tribal-school specific gardens and nutrition programs. Extends through FY2018 and appropriates funds for the Impact Aid program. Extends through FY2016: (1) the tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical institutions program, (2) the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, (3) grants for the Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, and (4) scholarships under the Snyder Act.