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20 U.S.C. § 7704Policies and procedures relating to children residing on Indian lands

submitted 32 years ago by Pub. L. 89-10 to r/title-20-EDUCATION · 1,118 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

School districts that count Indian-land children for federal funding must involve parents and tribes in planning. Districts must keep compliance records unless a tribe waives the requirement. Tribes can file complaints, and the Secretary can withhold funds if a district won't fix problems.

(a) In general: A school district that counts children living on Indian lands to get funding under section 7703 must set up rules to make sure: (1) those children take part in the funded programs on equal footing with all other children; (2) parents and Indian tribes get a chance to share their views on those programs, including suggestions about what the children need and how the district can help them benefit; (3) parents and tribes are consulted and involved in planning and developing the programs; (4) relevant applications, evaluations, and program plans are shared with parents and tribes; and (5) parents and tribes get a chance to share their views about the district's general education program. (b) Records: The district must keep records showing it followed the rules in (a). (c) Waiver: The district doesn't have to follow (a) and (b) for a fiscal year for a specific tribe if that tribe gave the district a written statement saying it doesn't need to comply, because the tribe is satisfied with the education services the district provides those children. (d) Technical assistance and enforcement: The Secretary must (1) give technical help to districts, parents, and tribes so they can carry out this section, and (2) enforce this section — which may include withholding funds — after giving the affected district, parents, and tribe a chance to share their views. (e) Complaints: (1) In general: (A) Any tribe (or someone the tribe picks) with students at a district may file a written complaint with the Secretary about any district action related to this section, regardless of other laws. (B) Within 10 working days of getting a complaint, the Secretary must: (i) pick a time and place for a hearing near the district, or somewhere else convenient to both sides if there's good cause; (ii) pick a hearing examiner to run it; and (iii) tell the tribe and district the time, place, and subject of the hearing, and send them both copies of the complaint. (2) Hearing: The hearing must happen within 30 days of picking the examiner, and it must be open to the public. A record of the hearing must be kept. (3) Evidence, recommendations, cost: Both the tribe and the district can present evidence and suggest what should be done to fix the problem. Each side pays its own costs. (4) Findings and recommendations: Within 30 days after the hearing ends, the examiner must write findings of fact and recommend what remedy, if any, is needed, based on the hearing record. The examiner sends these findings, along with the record, to the Secretary. (5) Written determination: Within 30 days of getting the findings, the Secretary must issue a written decision — based on the record — on what remedy is needed, the deadline to complete it, and why the Secretary decided that way. (6) Copies provided: Once the Secretary's final decision is made, the Secretary must give both the tribe and the district copies of the hearing record, the examiner's findings, and the final decision. That final decision can be reviewed by a court. (7) Consolidation: The Secretary can combine complaints that involve the same tribe or district. (8) Withholding: If the district rejects the Secretary's decision, or doesn't fix the problem in time and the Secretary decides that giving more time won't help, the Secretary must withhold all section 7703 money from the district until it fixes the problem. This doesn't apply if the complaining tribe asks that the money be released anyway. Also, the Secretary can't withhold money during the school year if doing so would badly disrupt the district's education programs. (9) Rejection of determination: If the district rejects the Secretary's decision, and a tribe then chooses — under section 1101(d) of the Education Amendments of 1978 — to have the Bureau of Indian Education provide education services directly or by contract, some of that tribe's students may still choose to stay at the district. Those students can still be counted for that district's section 7703 funding. If that happens, the Secretary won't withhold funds under (8) for this, and no more complaints about those students can be filed. (f) Construction: This section exists because of the special relationship between Indian nations and the United States. Nothing here removes any state's duty to its own citizens.
the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain
(a) In general

A local educational agency that claims children residing on Indian lands for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title shall establish policies and procedures to ensure that—

(1)

such children participate in programs and activities supported by such funds on an equal basis with all other children;

(2)

parents of such children and Indian tribes are afforded an opportunity to present their views on such programs and activities, including an opportunity to make recommendations on the needs of those children and how the local educational agency may help such children realize the benefits of such programs and activities;

(3)

parents and Indian tribes are consulted and involved in planning and developing such programs and activities;

(4)

relevant applications, evaluations, and program plans are disseminated to the parents and Indian tribes; and

(5)

parents and Indian tribes are afforded an opportunity to present their views to such agency regarding such agency’s general educational program.

(b) Records

A local educational agency that claims children residing on Indian lands for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title shall maintain records demonstrating such agency’s compliance with the requirements contained in subsection (a).

(c) Waiver

A local educational agency that claims children residing on Indian lands for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title shall not be required to comply with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) for any fiscal year with respect to any Indian tribe from which such agency has received a written statement that the agency need not comply with those subsections because the tribe is satisfied with the provision of educational services by such agency to such children.

(d) Technical assistance and enforcement

The Secretary shall—

(1)

provide technical assistance to local educational agencies, parents, and Indian tribes to enable such agencies, parents, and tribes to carry out this section; and

(2)

enforce this section through such actions, which may include the withholding of funds, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, after affording the affected local educational agency, parents, and Indian tribe an opportunity to present their views.

(e) Complaints
(1) In general
(A)

Any tribe, or its designee, which has students in attendance at a local educational agency may, in its discretion and without regard to the requirements of any other provision of law, file a written complaint with the Secretary regarding any action of a local educational agency taken pursuant to, or relevant to, the requirements of this section.

(B)

Within ten working days from receipt of a complaint, the Secretary shall—

(i)

designate a time and place for a hearing into the matters relating to the complaint at a location in close proximity to the local educational agency involved, or if the Secretary determines there is good cause, at some other location convenient to both the tribe, or its designee, and the local educational agency;

(ii)

designate a hearing examiner to conduct the hearing; and

(iii)

notify the affected tribe or tribes and the local educational agency involved of the time, place, and nature of the hearing and send copies of the complaint to the local educational agency and the affected tribe or tribes.

(2) Hearing

The hearing shall be held within 30 days of the designation of a hearing examiner and shall be open to the public. A record of the proceedings shall be established and maintained.

(3) Evidence; recommendations; cost

The complaining tribe, or its designee, and the local educational agency shall be entitled to present evidence on matters relevant to the complaint and to make recommendations concerning the appropriate remedial actions. Each party to the hearing shall bear only its own costs in the proceedings.

(4) Findings and recommendations

Within 30 days of the completion of the hearing, the hearing examiner shall, on the basis of the record, make written findings of fact and recommendations concerning appropriate remedial action, if any, which should be taken. The hearing examiner’s findings and recommendations, along with the hearing record, shall be forwarded to the Secretary.

(5) Written determination

Within 30 days of the Secretary’s receipt of the findings, recommendations, and record, the Secretary shall, on the basis of the record, make a written determination of the appropriate remedial action, if any, to be taken by the local educational agency, the schedule for completion of the remedial action, and the reasons for the Secretary’s decision.

(6) Copies provided

Upon completion of the Secretary’s final determination, the Secretary shall provide the complaining tribe, or its designee, and the local educational agency with copies of the hearing record, the hearing examiner’s findings and recommendations, and the Secretary’s final determination. The final determination of the Secretary shall be subject to judicial review.

(7) Consolidation

In all actions under this subsection, the Secretary shall have discretion to consolidate complaints involving the same tribe or local educational agency.

(8) Withholding

If the local educational agency rejects the determination of the Secretary, or if the remedy required is not undertaken within the time established and the Secretary determines that an extension of the time established will not effectively encourage the remedy required, the Secretary shall withhold payment of all moneys to which such local agency is eligible under section 7703 of this title until such time as the remedy required is undertaken, except where the complaining tribe or its designee formally requests that such funds be released to the local educational agency, except that the Secretary may not withhold such moneys during the course of the school year if the Secretary determines that such withholding would substantially disrupt the educational programs of the local educational agency.

(9) Rejection of determination

If the local educational agency rejects the determination of the Secretary and a tribe exercises the option under section 1101(d) of the Education Amendments of 1978, to have education services provided either directly by the Bureau of Indian Education or by contract with the Bureau of Indian Education, any Indian students affiliated with that tribe who wish to remain in attendance at the local educational agency against whom the complaint which led to the tribal action under such subsection (d) was lodged may be counted with respect to that local educational agency for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title. In such event, funds under such section shall not be withheld pursuant to paragraph (8) and no further complaints with respect to such students may be filed under paragraph (1).

(f) Construction

This section is based upon the special relationship between the Indian nations and the United States and nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve any State of any duty with respect to any citizens of that State.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 89–10, title VII, § 7004, formerly title VIII, § 8004, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3759; renumbered title VII, § 7004, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VII, §§ 7001(c)(1), (d)(2), 7005, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2074, 2086.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit
  • 1994Enacted · Pub. L. 89-10 · 108 Stat. 3759
  • 2015Amended · Pub. L. 114-95 · 129 Stat. 2074, 2086

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 89-10 on 1994-10-20.

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