Montana Indian Education Association will host a Statewide Indian Parent Forum at the Holiday Inn in Billings, October 24-25. The Forum will begin at 8:00 Friday morning, October 24 and continue through Saturday, October 25 at noon.

Local Indian Education concerns will be the focus of the Forum discussions, particularly with regard to drop-out rates and the MT 20-1-501 Indian Education for All law. Agenda topics include the federal No Child Left Behind Act, assessment/testing, advocacy strategies, local parent issues and many other local Indian Education issues. All Montana parents concerned with Indian Education in both reservation and urban areas are invited to participate in the Forum discussion.

Various local organizations and parent groups throughout the state will send parent representatives to contribute to the diverse issues affecting Indian children in schools throughout Montana.

For more information contact Les A. Munro, 338-7646 in Browning; Norma Bixby, 477-6602, Lame Deer; Arlene Augare, 338-3334, Heart Butte; Thomas Brown, 768-3524; or Patty LaPlant, 728-5615, Missoula.

FERPA –Family Educational & Privacy

Act: Either parent, including a noncustodial parent, has the right to inspect and review their student’s education record unless the school district or institution has been provided evidence that there is a court order or legally binding document…that specifically revokes these rights (FERPA 99.4)

MT School Renewal Commission Gets Underway
“It wasn’t any big surprise that school funding was the major issue identified by the Montana School Renewal Commission,” reports Carol Juneau. August 18 was the first meeting of the 28 member commission that was organized as a result of legislation (HB736) passed by the 2003 Montana Legislature. This Commission is charged with proposing changes and new provisions regarding several components of K-12 Public Education in Montana; including but not limited to revenue available for public education, structure of school district governance, methods of funding public education, role of state government in public education and the role of federal government in public education.
The membership represents a wide range of interest groups including school boards, state educational organizations, teachers, state legislators, business, agriculture, parents, and students.
If there are issues that MIEA membership and others who involved in Indian Education in Montana would like to see as part of the School Renewal Commission, please contact Carol Juneau at 406-338-5689 or at [email protected].

Lori Falcon Speaks from the OPI Indian Education Program:
The Office of Public Instruction Indian Education Program unveiled some great website updates for American Indian Heritage Day. Many of the lesson ideas on the site are valuable for implementing 20-1-501, Indian Education for All. In the past year, I have talked with many Indian people and the message remains consistent. Tribes must take the lead to implement Indian Education for All. By constitutional mandate, school districts and educational agencies must work with tribes to determine how all Montanans will learn about Indian heritage in a culturally responsive manner. The Office of Public Instruction has called for accreditation standards to implement 20-1-501 and for each Montana school to submit a five-year plan. In this plan they must specifically state how they are implementing the law. If they have not worked toward implementation OPI will assist as resources permit. To the disappointment of the State Superintendent, the 2003 State Legislature did not provide even minimal funding for the Indian Education for All mandate. Therefore, Indian parents and leaders have been working to put forth a common voice and to urge schools to incorporate the mandate through policy, hiring, allocation of resources, and curriculum.
Other efforts in the OPI Indian Education office include work with the seven tribal colleges, the universities and Ellen Swaney’s office to look at fundamental areas of reform for Indian Education, teacher education and education administration curriculum.
Hope to see Indian people out in full force at the Billings Parent Forum and the Legal Issues Forum in Great Falls!