Education Policy and Alaskan Natives / Andrew P. Lawson.

The paper demonstrated the need for American Indian involvement in the education policies affecting Indian children in Alaska. It analyzed the method that the State of Alaska used to fund schools for native children and the administration of the Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) Program by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Alaska is in a unique educational situation--other States are held responsible for the education of their citizens; in Alaska, however, as a holdover from territorial status, the State inherited and maintains a dual educational system. It has established a federally funded school district known as the State Operated Schools, which are attended primarily by native Alaskans in isolated rural areas and military dependents. Of the 18,000 students in these schools, 8,000 are native Alaskans. The paper gives some State Education Statutes that place native children in this unique position; a policy statement for the BIA administration of JOM funds; relevant sections from the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act; and taxing sections from the Statehood Act and the Land Claims Act. The report concluded that the State of Alaska has unique problems in supporting public education for its school age children, which will only be compounded by maintaining a dual school system that excludes Alaskan natives from policy making positions within the State's education structure. (KM)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.