page_title: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Educational Policies
section_title: Overview of educational history
hierarchical_section_title: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Educational Policies / Overview of educational history
caption_attribution_description: English: Cherokee Heritage Center ( Tahlequah / Oklahoma ). Adams Corner village: Village school - Class room. Deutsch: Cherokee Heritage Center ( Tahlequah / Oklahoma ). Adams Corner: Dorfschule - Klassenzimmer.
context_page_description: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians educational policies have shaped the scholastic opportunities afforded to its members. The decision of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to take control of the schools located on the Qualla Boundary under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1987 started a wave of tribal responsibility in education. EBCI Tribal Council began producing programs that aided its members in most all aspects of the educational process. The evolution of these programs, their financing, and their relationship with tribal members and non-members alike are in a constant state of flux dependent upon policies produced by the EBCI tribal council. The EBCI tribal council does not directory set educational policy, although some if its members do set on boards that govern the educational facilities, and in most cases the director of the educational programs do report to the tribal council throughout the year. The policies of the EBCI educational programs can be analyzed through their respective goals, objectives, and procedures.
context_section_description: Cherokees first began to receive formal education around 1804 from missionary groups in northern Georgia.  During the Cherokees forced removal to Oklahoma in 1838 education became virtually non-existent.  For the remaining Cherokees in Western North Carolina education was provided by the Quakers through contract until the late 1800s.  The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians gained federal recognition by the U.S. Congress in 1868 and North Carolina state recognition just a few years prior.  In 1890 the Bureau of Indian Affairs then known as the U.S. Indian Service provided boarding schools throughout Cherokee. The boarding schools became Cherokee day school in 1954 and in 1962 these community day schools were closed with the opening of a central elementary school. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians[EBCI] schools first became tribally controlled in 1990 with congresses enactment of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988. The U.S. Congress contended that "self-determination is dependent on an educational process that develops qualified people to fulfill meaningful leadership roles.  Since that time the EBCI have been very supportive in cultivating education.  The EBCI Tribal Council has incorporated the funding of many of the tribal educational facilities into the Cherokee Code (the EBCI's Governing Document), and worked diligently to supply support for many others.  The EBCI Tribal Council along with the Cherokee Preservation Foundation have supported and fostered independent schools such as the Kituwah Preservation & Education Program or KPEP, whose main focus is the revitalization of the Cherokee language.  The EBCI also created the Higher Education and Training department within the Community Education & Recreation Services Division to foster secondary education for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian students.
caption: Cherokee Heritage Center.
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