IHBJ-RB IHBJ-RB REGULATION
INDIAN EDUCATION
Tribal officials and parents of Indian students shall have the opportunity to comment on the participation of Indian students.
Procedures
At least once every school year, usually in November, a Governing Board meeting shall be held, at which time parents of Indian children and tribal officials shall be given the opportunity to comment on the following:
A. The participation of Indian children on an equal basis in the educational program, when necessary.
B. The P.L. 81-874 application, evaluations of educational programs, and plans to eliminate or initiate educational programs.
C. The planning and development of educational programs.
D. The needs of their children, the ways they can help their children to realize the benefits to be derived from the education program, and the overall operation of the education program, including the parental participation allowed.
Annually (usually in November) school officials will review school data and comments from parents and tribal officials to assess the extent of Indian children's participation in the education program on an equal basis. If this review points to a lack of Indian children's equal participation, a task force shall be appointed to prepare a modified educational program.
When the following documents are available, a summary shall be sent home to each parent of an Indian child. The summary shall include a note that the full document will be sent upon request. The documents, in full, shall be mailed to tribal officials (Office of the Chairman of the Navajo Nation, Chairman of the Education Committee, and chapter presidents of the chapters within the local School District).
A. P.L. 81-874 application.
B. Evaluations of educational programs.
C. Plans to eliminate or initiate educational programs.
A committee shall be appointed, at the start of each school year, to monitor and review Indian input and opportunity to comment on the educational program and the District's response to Indian comments. The committee shall recommend modification of these policies and procedures, if necessary, to respond to the Indian input.
These procedures shall be reviewed annually (usually in November) at a Board meeting.
Compliance Officer
In order to ensure compliance with Board policy and procedures on parental and tribal involvement regarding the District's educational programs, the Superintendent shall annually designate a bilingual member of the staff to serve as a compliance officer. This person shall review the continuing efforts of the District and ensure that adequate actions are being taken to fulfill the intent of this regulation and procedures.
The designated compliance officer shall also review any questions or complaints submitted by parents or tribal representatives regarding actions related to this regulation and procedures and shall ensure that any concerns are resolved or answered.
To ensure equal access to the complaint process, said person shall assist any parent or tribal representative in expressing a concern through the proper channels and provide assistance in writing a formal complaint when such request is received.
The designated compliance officer shall inform parents and tribal officials regarding the policies and regulations of the District's regular and special Board meetings, study sessions, and public hearings to ensure that parents and tribal officials have the opportunity to participate in District school programs.
Advisory Committees
A parent-teacher advisory committee shall meet once a month on a regular basis. Other parent involvement committees that meet on a regular basis include those designed for specific functions and to meet specific mandates, including such programs as Johnson O'Malley and Title IV-A.
Other special committees involving parents and community members shall be established from time to time based upon mandates of the Board and/or needs of the District.
Dissemination of Information
The office of the Superintendent shall regularly publish a newsletter containing basic information regarding school activities and programs. Students shall publish a newsletter not less than three times a year, which shall be distributed to all parents as well as to staff members.
Bilingual District personnel, including Board members, shall regularly attend chapter and other community meetings to disseminate information and solicit recommendations regarding educational programs.
The school shall schedule open-house programs for parents to provide opportunities for parents to discuss school matters with teachers.
Public media, including newspapers and radio, shall be utilized to disseminate information regarding school programs, including any meetings, to parents and the community as a whole.
Review
The District will annually review Policy IHBJ to ensure that it meets all minimum standards and continues to provide for an adequate level of Indian participation. If needed, the District will amend or modify policies and procedures to conform with appropriate requirements.
Any amended policies or procedures shall be provided to the secretary and to the affected tribe(s).