PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Congress says many more American Indian and Alaska Native students now qualify for and want to go to college, but the help available is much too small. Tribes want to run these programs, and most have used a federal contracting process to take control from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but limits in that contracting and slow BIA procedures have made the programs less effective. Providing these services well is needed for tribes, the country, and the students, and is part of the federal government’s ongoing responsibility to provide education to American Indian and Alaska Natives.

Title 25, §3302

Indians, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Congress finds that—

(1)there are increasing numbers of Indian students qualifying for postsecondary education, and there are increasing numbers desiring to go to postsecondary institutions;

(2)the needs of these students far outpace the resources available currently;

(3)Indian tribes have shown an increasing interest in administering programs serving these individuals and making decisions on these programs reflecting their determinations of the tribal and human needs;

(4)the contracting process under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] has provided a mechanism for the majority of the tribes to assume control over this program from the Bureau of Indian Affairs;

(5)however, inherent limitations in the contracting philosophy and mechanism, coupled with cumbersome administrative procedures developed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs have effectively limited the efficiency and effectiveness of these programs;

(6)the provision of these services in the most effective and efficient form possible is necessary for tribes, the country, and the individuals to be served; and

(7)these services are part of the Federal Government’s continuing trust responsibility to provide education services to American Indian and Alaska Natives.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in par. (4), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which is classified principally to chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables.

§3302 Findings