State public school boards are political entities of the state. Thus, state government has the ultimate authority over public school policies, curriculum, staffing, and funding. These structures give board members and parent committees little, if any, effective clout with the school districts or with the state and federal governments on these matters. State and federal governments have Departments of Education and education officials. Tribes must have the resources and capabilities to make political decisions, develop legal codes and governmental infrastructure, and take legal action that simply cannot be taken by school boards or parent committees.
Tribal governments are inherently closer to their people than are the state and federal governments.
They are closer to the children and the families. Tribal governments are inherently better advocates for Indian students and parents than are the state and federal governments. And like other local governments, tribes dislike bureaucracy and are more service-oriented. Like other local governments, tribes are more accountable and more readily available than larger, more distant governments. No, not unless the tribe makes that decision.