Building upon Unique Indian Learning and Development Act

Bill: 114-s-410
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM]
Introduced: 2015-02-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Native Americans
Subjects: Academic performance and assessments
Alaska Natives and Hawaiians
Building construction
Child health
Department of Education
Department of the Interior
Education programs funding
Educational facilities and institutions
Elementary and secondary education
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Health programs administration and funding
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Licensing and registrations
Minority education
Nutrition and diet
Preschool education
School administration
Science and engineering education
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-09
text: 

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. 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-11-18
text: Committee on Indian Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-192.
action_date: 2015-02-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.
action_date: 2015-02-09
text: Introduced in Senate