Procedure 6100P

IMPACT AID - INDIAN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

  1. ASSURANCE STATEMENT

Mt.AdamsSchool District is located on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Approximately seventy percent of the District’s student population is of Native American descent. The Mt.AdamsSchool District assures that all Indian children attending the District’s schools will have equal participation opportunities in all school programs including those funded by Title VIII monies. While the Board of Directors of the District is mandated by law to be responsible for the equitable education of all students attending the District’s schools, tribal officials and parents of Indian children are assured the opportunity to comment on the District’s education programs in open consultation, to make recommendations, and to present their views regarding: the needs of their children; the ways that they can assist their children to realize the benefits to be derived from education programs assisted with Title VIII monies; and their overall views on the Mt. Adams educational program, including its operation and the parental participation allowed.

The superintendent shall establish procedures to assure the involvement of tribal officials and parents of Indian children in the development of the basic education program including the education services to be provided with Title VIII funds. The superintendent will, also, provide opportunities for parents and members of the tribal council to suggest if any policy and/or procedure changes as well as program changes are necessary to better serve the needs of the Indian students.

  1. POLICY STATEMENT

It is the Mt. Adams School District policy to annually confirm its commitment to ensure tribal officials and parents of Indian children an opportunity to comment on the participation of Indian children, on an equal basis in the school program with other children educated by the District, be reviewing, amending, and adopting appropriate educational programs as defined by all sources including that of tribal officials and parents of Indian children.

District Objectives:

  1. To give tribal officials and parents of Indian children the opportunity to comment on the participation of Indian children on an equal basis in the school program with all other children educated by the Mt.AdamsSchool District.
  2. To disseminate to tribal officials and the parents of Indian children: a. theTitle VIII application, b. any evaluations of programs assisted with Title VIII funds, and c. any program plans for programs that may be initiated or eliminated.
  3. To consult actively and involve regularly tribal officials and parents of Indian children in the planning and development of education programs.
  1. To afford tribal officials and parents of Indian children an opportunity to: make recommendations concerning the needs of their children, the ways in which they can assist their children in realizing the benefits to be derived from the educational programs assisted with Title VIII funds, and to present their overall views on the education program including its operation and the degree of parental participation allowed.
  1. PROCEDURES TO COMPLY WITH THE TITLE VIII REGULATORY STANDARDS-

PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPATION

1.Programs

a.The Mt. Adams School Board meetings are open to the public. All regular and special board meetings are advertised in the local newspapers with a minimum of twenty-four hours notice prior to the meeting. In addition, notices of meetings are posted in the local post offices. Board meetings are held monthly and are scheduled to alternate between the two campus locations. The campuses are approximately twelve miles apart. Minutes of the board meetings are available in the district office upon request.

b.At least two public hearings are held during the year to receive input from parents of Indian children and tribal officials. Parents can provide written or verbal input.

September-October: The Board schedules a community meeting to receive input on school programs. The Board encourages comments on the participation of Indian children on an equal basis with all other children in the education programs and activities in the local education agency.

December-January: The Board holds a public hearing on the Title VIII application.

April-May: The Board holds a public hearing on the use of Title VIII funds. Input is used for the next school year’s budget. In addition to these meetings, the Board will schedule at least one meeting per year with representatives from the Yakama Tribal Council.

c. The Board provides monthly reports to the patrons of the district on the status of the district’s educational programs at regularly scheduled board of director’s meetings. Parents of Indian children and tribal officials are invited to provide comment and give input during these meetings at the time set aside on the board agenda called “Hearing from Individuals and Groups”. In this manner the district can actively consult and involve tribal officials and parents in the planning and development of the district’s educational program to better serve the needs of Indian students on a regular basis.

2. Dissemination

a.The district publishes a school calendar. It is initially distributed during fall student registration. Copies of the calendar are made available throughout the year. The district also mails a copy of the calendar to every patron in the school district. Additional copies are placed at the two local post offices.

Dates of monthly board meetings are published to encourage parent participation. A synopsis and evaluation of all programs assisted with Title VIII funds are also available in the calendar.

The calendar includes the district’s annual report to the community. The report contains the following:

  • District Program Goals
  • Governance, Equal Educational Opportunities, Staffing & Facilities
  • Instructional Programs
  • Student Test Scores
  • Budget Information
  1. District newsletters are mailed to community patrons. It contains information regarding school activities and programs. Student success stories are also shared.
  1. Parent nights are scheduled in all three buildings. Parent surveys are conducted. The school board utilizes the information gathered as they make program adjustments.
  1. COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Any parent of Indian students or tribal official may file a complaint regarding the application of Title VIII funds with the district. Said complaint should be submitted in writing to the superintendent of schools. Any complaint not satisfactorily resolved may be submitted in writing to the board of directors of the district. The board may elect to respond in writing to the complaint or hold an informal hearing with the complainant(s). A decision will be rendered within twenty (20) working days following submittal of the complaint to the board.

If the tribe continues to be dissatisfied with the district’s development and implementation of Indian policies and procedures after working informally to resolve differences, the tribe may file a written complaint about the district’s compliance with the Indian policies and procedures. Written complaints filed with the assistant secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education will be addressed through a hearing before an administrative law judge. Both the complaining tribe or its designee, and the district, will be allowed to present evidence regarding the complaint. The assistant secretary will make a final decision based on the recommendation of the administrative law judge and suggest appropriate remedial actions.

Adoption Date: December 21, 2009; November 17, 2014; January 20, 2016

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