Coordination and Cooperation in Indian Education: An Emerging Phenomenon. The Fifth Annual Report to the Congress of the United States.

Overview & Synopsis

In 1977 the National Advisory Council on Indian Education sought as one of its primary goals the coordination of its actions with other Indian organizations. Recommendations in this report reflect that effort to bring education and tribal affairs closer and so improve education delivery services to tribal people. Recommendations include: (1) that the Indian Education Act be reauthorized for a five year period and that it be funded at a minimum level of $275,800,000 with a minimum staff level of 66 positions; (2) that the Office of Indian Education and the Office of Education institute a coordination policy to insure access to and promote maximum participation of American Indians and Alaska Natives in all programs in the Office of Education and Health, Education and Welfare; and (3) that Indian controlled institutes for higher education be given more support. Recommendations were formulated at council meetings in Arizona, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Texas, and Minnesota; summaries of these meetings are included. An appendix includes descriptions of vocational education discretionary programs, an appeal by a native Hawaiian for support of a proposed amendment to the Indian Education Act to include native Hawaiians, testimony on "A School for Me, Inc." for handicapped Indian children, and distribution options for Johnson O'Malley educational assistance. (DS)