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Week Ending September 29, 2006

 

H.R.4766 To amend the Native American Languages Act to provide for the support of Native American language survival schools, and for other purposes.

 

The Department of Education is authorized in this bill to make grants to or contract with Native American language educational organizations, Native American language colleges, Indian Tribal governments, organizations that demonstrate the potential to become Native American language education organizations and other like minded groups to establish Native American ‘nests’ that meet specified requirements for students under the age of seven and their families, the Congressional Research Service concluded. A ‘nest’ is defined as a site-based educational program that enrolls families with children under age 7, is conducted through a Native American language for at least 700 hours per year per student and has the specific goals of strengthening, revitalizing or reestablishing a Native American language and culture as a living language and culture of daily life.

 

The bill aims to expand and increase the number of Native American language survival schools through the US. Grant recipients must include parents who must attend compulsory classes. At least five percent of the nest’s funding must be from another source. A school must also have three years experience operating and administering such a school, the nests and may include students through grade 12 and their families. The grants can also be spent on transportation, boarding, food service, teacher and staff housing, basic materials, adaptation of teaching materials, translation and development.

 

 

Sponsor: Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM-1st)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote September 27, 2006

Cost to the taxpayers: Such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 are authorized. Actual appropriations, when they are made, would be more specific amounts.

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