Procedure: 4220P3

Section: 4000 - Community Relations

Title: Indian Education Guidelines

Status: Active

Adopted: October 1, 1982

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Procedure - Indian Education Guidelines

I. Summary of Ferndale School District's Indian Policies and Procedures 

A. The Ferndale School District receives an additional entitlement based on the number of children residing on Indian lands. Although the Ferndale School District is not required to spend the entitlement for Indian children or for special programs for Indian children, the District will involve tribal officials and parents of Indian children as follows:

1. Provide an opportunity for tribal officials and parents of Indian children to comment on the participation of Indian children and assess the extent to which Indian children do participate on an equal basis in the school program with all other children educated by the district.
2. Disseminate the Impact Aid Program (P.L. 81-874) application to interested tribal officials and parents of Indian children.
3. Disseminate information on the education programs that the district plans to initiate or eliminate and any evaluations of education programs assisted with funds provided under the Impact Aid Program.
4. Afford tribal officials and parents of Indian children an opportunity to make recommendations concerning the needs of their children, and the ways by which tribal officials and parents of Indian children can assist their children in realizing the benefits to be derived from the education programs assisted with funds provided by the Impact Aid Program.
5. Provide an opportunity for tribal officials and parents of Indian children to present their overall views on the education program, including the operation of the education program and the degree of parental participation allowed.
6. Consult actively and involve regularly with the L/DEAC in the planning and development of education programs assisted with funds provided under the Impact Aid Program.

II.  P.L. 81-874 Impact Aid Program Regulatory Standards For Indian Policies and Procedures

A. Indian policies and procedures (IPP) specify how the school district will give tribal officials and parents of Indian children (parents) an opportunity to comment on the participation of Indian children on an equal basis in the education program.

The Ferndale School District will provide L/DEAC public meetings which will focus on this issue. Policies and procedures describing the participation on an equal basis will be made available to all interested persons.

B. IPP specifies how the school district will assess the extent to which Indian children participate on an equal basis in the education.

Ferndale School District officials will review school data and comments from tribal officials and parents through the L/DEAC to assess the extent of Indian children's participation in the education program on an equal basis with all other children educated by the school district.

C. IPP specifies procedures for modifying its educational program, when necessary, to allow Indian children to participate on an equal basis.

Ferndale School District will utilize the L/DEAC to review education programs to ensure equal participation in the program by Indian children, when necessary.

D. IPP specifies how the Ferndale School District will disseminate, prior to the submission of the 874 application, the following materials to the L/DEAC and interested tribal officials and parents:

P.L. 81-874, application; evaluations of education programs assisted with 874 funds; and program plans for education programs the school district plans to initiate/eliminate.

E. IPP specifies that the parents and tribal officials will have adequate time and opportunity to present their views regarding the 874 application, evaluations, and program plans.

The Ferndale School District will provide this information to the L/DEAC which will provide a forum for discussion.

F. IPP describes how the Ferndale School District will actively consult and regularly involve tribal officials and parents in the planning and development of education programs assisted with 874 funds.

The Ferndale School District will provide for meetings to discuss this matter and will review the information through the L/DEAC.

G. IPP describes the methods utilized by the school district to afford tribal officials and parents an opportunity to make recommendations and present their views regarding the needs of their children; the ways they can assist their children to realize the benefits to be derived from the education programs assisted with 874 monies; and their overall views on the educational program including its operation and the parental participation allowed. This description of the methods includes specific ways the district will gather information concerning Indian views, including the frequency, location, and time of meetings.

The Ferndale School District will provide for a public meetings, the location and time to be announced by the Lummi/District Education Advisory Council (L/DEAC), to the Lummi Community, during which the tribal officials and parents may make recommendations concerning the needs of their children and their ability to assist in the children's education and present their views regarding the needs of their children, the educational program, and the degree of parental participation allowed.

H. IPP contains specific procedures for assessing the meaningfulness of Indian input and modifying the policies and procedures based on that input.

Through the L/DEAC, the Ferndale School District will review the input, the opportunity for input, the district's responses to the comments, and recommended changes in the policies and procedures as necessary. The district will also provide for a meeting to modify the IPP, if necessary.

III. Tribal and Parent Responsibilities

A. Tribal organizations and parents of Indian children residing on Indian lands have specific responsibilities to the school district which is funded under the Impact Aid Program. Specifically, tribal members and parents, through the assistance of the Lummi Superintendent of Education, should:

1. Comment on the participation of Indian children on an equal basis in the education programs;
2. Assess the extent to which Indian children participate on an equal basis;
3. Review the Impact Aid application, any evaluations of education programs assisted with Impact Aid Program funds, and any program plans for education programs that may be initiated or eliminated;
4. Consult actively and regularly with the L/DEAC in the planning and development of education programs;
5. Make recommendations concerning the needs of the Indian children and the ways to realize the benefits to be derived from the education programs assisted with Impact Aid Funds; and
6. Present their overall views to the L/DEAC on education programs including the operation of programs and the degree of parental participation.

Adopted: 09.09.1996