§2011 — Title 25 Indians | U.S. Code

Summary

The United States, through the Secretary, must help Indian people take control of education matters that affect them. All actions under the law must include active consultation with tribes, and the government must work government‑to‑government with tribes to make sure tribal members get a quality education. Consultation means open talks where all options are discussed with the Bureau and interested parties. Tribes and school officials must be allowed to raise issues, offer proposals, and discuss or suggest alternatives. Their views should be given effect unless the Secretary finds a strong reason, based on information presented in those talks, to do otherwise. If the Secretary makes a decision that does not match those views, any Member of Congress who asks in writing must receive a written explanation within 18 days.

Title 25, §2011

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It shall be the policy of the United States acting through the Secretary, in carrying out the functions of the Bureau, to facilitate Indian control of Indian affairs in all matters relating to education.

(b)(1)All actions under this Act shall be done with active consultation with tribes. The United States acting through the Secretary and tribes shall work in a government-to-government relationship to ensure quality education for all tribal members.

(2)(A)In this subsection, the term “consultation” means a process involving the open discussion and joint deliberation of all options with respect to potential issues or changes between the Bureau and all interested parties.

(B)During discussions and joint deliberations, interested parties (including tribes and school officials) shall be given an opportunity—

(i)to present issues (including proposals regarding changes in current practices or programs) that will be considered for future action by the Secretary; and

(ii)to participate and discuss the options presented, or to present alternatives, with the views and concerns of the interested parties given effect unless the Secretary determines, from information available from or presented by the interested parties during one or more of the discussions and deliberations, that there is a substantial reason for another course of action.

(C)The Secretary shall submit to any Member of Congress, within 18 days of the receipt of a written request by such Member, a written explanation of any decision made by the Secretary which is not consistent with the views of the interested parties described in subparagraph (B).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), means Pub. L. 95–561, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2143, known as the Education

Amendments

of 1978. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 6301 of Title 20, Education, and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2011, Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1131, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4001, related to policy for Indian control of Indian education, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110. Another prior section 2011, Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1131, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2322; 1978 Reorg. Plan No. 2, § 102, eff. Jan. 1, 1979, 43 F.R. 36037, 92 Stat. 3783; Pub. L. 98–511, title V, § 507(b), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2396; Pub. L. 100–297, title V, §§ 5112(a), (b)(1), 5114, 5115, Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 377, 378, 380; Pub. L. 100–427, § 9(a)–(c), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1606, related to education personnel, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 103–382.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 8, 2002, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 107–110, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

§2011 Policy for Indian control of Indian education