§7453 Native American and Alaska Native language immersion schools and programs

Summary

Creates a grant program to help schools teach mainly in Native American and Alaska Native languages. The goals are to protect the right to use these languages, to help communities revive and keep their languages and cultures, and to improve education for Native students. From certain reserved funds, 20 percent must be kept for these grants. Groups that can apply include: an Indian tribe; a Tribal College or University; a tribal education agency; a local school district or public charter that is a district under state law; a school run by the Bureau of Indian Education; an Alaska Native Regional Corporation; a private tribal or Alaska Native nonprofit; and a nontribal for-profit company. Applicants must tell the Department the language used, how many students attend, how many hours of instruction in the language students get, and a plan for using the money, teaching high-quality academics, and reaching fluency goals. They must give basic governance and partnership information and promise to meet long-term goals, use language assessments when possible, have qualified staff, and report student results publicly. Public schools and nontribal organizations must include a certification from a local tribe, Tribal College, Alaska Native group, or Native Hawaiian group that the school can teach in the language and that enough speakers are available. Grants can last up to 3 years, the Education Department decides grant amounts, and it should try to fund many different languages. Grant money must be used for language instruction and teacher training, and can also be used for curriculum, language assessments, and other language‑revitalizing work. Grantees must send an annual report about activities, number of children served, and hours of instruction. No more than 5 percent of a grant each year can pay for administration.