[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4766 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4766
To amend the Native American Languages Act to provide for the support
of Native American language survival schools, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 15, 2006
Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico (for herself and Mr. Renzi) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Native American Languages Act to provide for the support
of Native American language survival schools, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; PURPOSES.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Native American
Languages Preservation Act of 2006''.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
(1) To encourage and support, consistent with the policy of
the United States as expressed in the Native American Languages
Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.), the revitalization of Native
American languages through--
(A) education in Native American languages; and
(B) instruction in other academic subjects using
Native American languages as an instructional medium.
(2) To demonstrate the positive effects of Native American
language survival schools on the academic success of Native
American students and the students' mastery of standard
English.
(3) To encourage and support the involvement of families in
the educational and cultural survival efforts of Native
American language survival schools.
(4) To encourage communication, cooperation, and
educational exchange among Native American language survival
schools and the administrators of Native American language
survival schools.
(5) To provide support for Native American language
survival school facilities and endowments.
(6) To provide support for Native American language nests--
(A) as part of Native American language survival
schools; or
(B) as separate programs that will be developed
into more comprehensive Native American language
survival schools.
(7) To support the development of local and national models
that can be disseminated to the public and made available to
other schools as exemplary methods of teaching Native American
students.
(8) To develop a support center system for Native American
language survival schools at the university level.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Section 103 of the Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902)
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.
``In this title:
``(1) Elementary school.--The term `elementary school' has
the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(2) Indian.--The term `Indian' has the meaning given the
term in section 7151 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7491).
``(3) Indian reservation.--The term `Indian reservation'
has the meaning given the term `reservation' in section 3 of
the Indian Financing Act of 1974 (25 U.S.C. 1452).
``(4) Indian tribal government.--The term `Indian tribal
government' has the meaning given the term in section 502 of
the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program Act of 1992
(42 U.S.C. 4368b).
``(5) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
``(6) Native american.--The term `Native American' means--
``(A) an Indian;
``(B) a Native American Pacific Islander;
``(C) a Native Hawaiian; and
``(D) an Alaska Native.
``(7) Native american language.--The term `Native American
language' means a historical, traditional language spoken by
Native Americans.
``(8) Native american language college.--The term `Native
American language college' means--
``(A) a tribally controlled college or university
(as defined in section 2 of the Tribally Controlled
College or University Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
1801)); and
``(B) a college that is applying for, or has
obtained, funds under section 109 for a Native American
language survival school in a Native American language
that--
``(i) the college regularly offers as part
of the curriculum of the college; and
``(ii) has the support of an Indian tribal
government traditionally affiliated with the
Native American language.
``(9) Native american language educational organization.--
The term `Native American language educational organization'
means an organization that--
``(A) is governed by a board consisting--
``(i) primarily of Native Americans; and
``(ii) as many speakers of 1 or more Native
American languages as practicable;
``(B) is currently providing instruction through
the use of a Native American language to at least 10
preschool, elementary school, or secondary school
students for at least 700 hours per year per student;
``(C) has provided instruction through the use of a
Native American language to at least 10 preschool,
elementary school, or secondary school students for at
least 700 hours per year per student for a period of
not less than 3 years before the date of application
for a grant or contract under this title; and
``(D) may be a public school that meets the
requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
``(10) Native american language nest.--The term `Native
American language nest' means a site-based educational program
that--
``(A) enrolls families with children under the age
of 7;
``(B) is conducted through a Native American
language for at least 700 hours per year per student;
and
``(C) has the specific goal of strengthening,
revitalizing, or reestablishing a Native American
language and culture as a living language and culture
of daily life.
``(11) Native american language survival school.--The term
`Native American language survival school' means a site-based
educational program--
``(A) in which a Native American language is
dominant;
``(B) that expands from a Native American language
nest, as a separate entity or inclusive of a Native
American language nest, to enroll families with
children eligible for elementary school or secondary
school; and
``(C) that provides a complete education through a
Native American language with the specific goal of
strengthening, revitalizing, or reestablishing a Native
American language and culture as a living language and
culture of daily life.
``(12) Native american pacific islander.--The term `Native
American Pacific Islander' means any descendant of the
aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is a
territory or possession of the United States.
``(13) Native hawaiian.--The term `Native Hawaiian' has the
meaning given the term in section 7207 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517).
``(14) Secondary school.--The term `secondary school' has
the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(15) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Education.
``(16) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).''.
SEC. 3. NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE NESTS AND SURVIVAL SCHOOLS.
The Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 108. NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE NESTS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to, or enter into
contracts with, Native American language educational organizations,
Native American language colleges, Indian tribal governments,
organizations that demonstrate the potential to become Native American
language educational organizations, or consortia of such entities for
the purpose of establishing Native American language nests for--
``(1) students under the age of 7; and
``(2) families of the students.
``(b) Requirements.--A Native American language nest receiving
funds under this section shall--
``(1) provide instruction and child care through the use of
a Native American language for at least 10 children under the
age of 7 for at least 700 hours per year per student;
``(2) provide compulsory classes in a Native American
language for parents of students enrolled in a Native American
language nest (including Native American language-speaking
parents);
``(3) provide compulsory monthly meetings for parents and
other family members of students enrolled in a Native American
language nest;
``(4) provide a preference in enrollment for students and
families who are fluent in a Native American language;
``(5) receive at least 5 percent of the funding for the
program from another source, which may include any federally
funded program (such as a Head Start program funded under the
Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.)); and
``(6) ensure that a Native American language becomes the
dominant medium of instruction in the Native American language
nest not later than 6 years after the date on which the Native
American language nest first receives funding under this title.
``SEC. 109. NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE SURVIVAL SCHOOLS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants to, or enter into
contracts with, Native American language educational organizations,
Native American language colleges or universities where such languages
are taught, Indian tribal governments, or consortia of such entities,
to operate, expand, and increase the number of Native American language
survival schools throughout the United States and the territories of
the United States for Native American children and Native American
language-speaking children.
``(b) Eligibility.--As a condition of receiving funds under
subsection (a), a Native American language educational organization, a
Native American language college or universities where such languages
are taught, an Indian tribal government, or a consortium of such
entities--
``(1) shall have at least 3 years experience in operating
and administering--
``(A) a Native American language survival school;
``(B) a Native American language nest; or
``(C) any other educational program in which
instruction is conducted in a Native American language;
``(2) shall include students who are subject to State
compulsory education laws; and
``(3) may include--
``(A) students from infancy through grade 12; and
``(B) the families of the students.
``(c) Priority.--In making grants or entering into contracts under
this section, the Secretary shall give priority to--
``(1) the provision of direct educational services;
``(2) applicants that have the support of each appropriate
tribal government;
``(3) applicants that have researched language
revitalization and the unique characteristics and circumstances
of the languages of their schools; and
``(4) applicants that are geographically placed amongst a
high density of potential Native American and other students.
``(d) Use of Funds.--
``(1) Required uses.--A Native American language survival
school receiving funds under this section--
``(A) shall consist of not less than 700 hours of
instruction per student conducted annually through 1 or
more Native American languages for at least 15 students
for whom a Native American language survival school is
their principal place of instruction;
``(B) shall provide direct educational services and
school support services to students, which may
include--
``(i) support services for children with
special needs;
``(ii) transportation;
``(iii) boarding;
``(iv) food service;
``(v) teacher and staff housing;
``(vi) purchase of basic materials;
``(vii) adaptation of teaching materials;
``(viii) translation and development; and
``(ix) other appropriate services;
``(C)(i) shall provide direct or indirect
educational and support services for the families of
enrolled students on site, through colleges, or through
other means to increase the families' knowledge and use
of the Native American language and culture; and
``(ii) may impose a requirement of family
participation as a condition of student enrollment; and
``(D) shall ensure that within 4 years of
enrollment, all students achieve functional fluency in
a Native American language that is appropriate to the
unique circumstances and endangerment status of the
Native American language, with the ultimate goal of
academic or cognitive fluency.
``(2) Permissible uses.--A Native American language
survival school receiving funds under this section may--
``(A) include Native American language nests and
other educational programs for students who--
``(i) are not Native American language
speakers; but
``(ii) seek--
``(I) to establish fluency through
instruction in a Native American
language; or
``(II) to reestablish fluency as
descendants of Native American language
speakers;
``(B) provide instruction through more than 1
language;
``(C) provide instruction through a regional
program (as opposed to 1 site) to better serve
geographically dispersed students;
``(D) include a program of concurrent and summer
college or university education course enrollment for
secondary school students enrolled in the Native
American language survival school;
``(E) provide special support for Native American
languages for which there are very few or no remaining
Native American language speakers;
``(F) develop comprehensive curricula in Native
American language instruction and instruction through
Native American languages, including--
``(i) curricula that can be used by public
schools for--
``(I) instruction through a Native
American language; or
``(II) teaching Native American
languages as subjects;
``(ii) community Native American language
use in communities served by Native American
language survival schools; and
``(iii) knowledge of a specific Native
American language gained through research for
the purpose of directly aiding the development
of curriculum materials;
``(G) provide programs in pre-service and in-
service teacher training, staff training, personnel
development, upgrading of teacher and staff skills, and
community resource development training, that shall
include a program component that has as the objective
of the program component increased speaking proficiency
in Native American languages for teachers and staff
employed in Native American language survival schools
and Native American language nests, which may include--
``(i) visits or exchanges among Native
American language survival schools and Native
American language nests of teachers, staff,
students, or families of students;
``(ii) participation in conferences or
special nondegree programs focusing on the use
of 1 or more Native American languages for the
education of teachers, staff, students, or
families of students;
``(iii) subject to paragraph (3), full or
partial scholarships and fellowships to
colleges or universities--
``(I) to provide for the
professional development of faculty and
staff;
``(II) to meet requirements for the
involvement of the family or the
community of Native American language
survival school students in Native
American language survival schools; and
``(III) to develop resource
personnel for Native American language
programs in public schools;
``(iv) training in the language and culture
associated with a Native American language
survival school that is provided by a community
or academic expert, including credit courses;
``(v) structuring of personnel operations
to support Native American language and
cultural fluency and program effectiveness;
``(vi) Native American language planning,
documentation, reference material, and archives
development; and
``(vii) recruitment for participation in
teacher, staff, student, and community
development; or
``(H) rent, lease, purchase, construct, maintain,
or repair educational facilities to ensure the academic
achievement of Native American language survival school
students.
``(3) Requirements for recipients of fellowships or
scholarships.--A recipient of a fellowship or scholarship under
paragraph (2)(G)(iii) who is enrolled in a program leading to a
degree or certificate shall--
``(A) be trained in the Native American language of
the Native American language survival school, if such
program is available through that Native American
language;
``(B) complete a minimum annual number of hours in
Native American language study or training during the
period of the fellowship or scholarship; and
``(C) enter into a contract that obligates the
recipient to provide the recipient's professional
services, during the period of the fellowship or
scholarship or on completion of a degree or
certificate, in Native American language instruction in
the Native American language associated with the Native
American language survival school in which the service
obligation is to be fulfilled.
``SEC. 110. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall make grants, or enter
into contracts, to establish 1 demonstration program that will provide
assistance to Native American language survival schools and Native
American language nests.
``(b) Location.--The demonstration program shall be established at
a Carnegie Research-Extensive University (as defined under the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education) that--
``(1) has substantial Native American enrollment;
``(2) has a Native American language program;
``(3) is located in a State in which at least 7 Native
American languages are spoken; and
``(4) is located near Native American communities that have
Native American language speakers.
``(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the demonstration program shall be
the following:
``(1) Assisting in establishing, conducting, and
administering community-based Native American language nests or
Native American language survival schools by--
``(A) developing community leadership for Native
American language programs;
``(B) training Native American language mentors;
and
``(C) conducting community education and outreach
on Native American language issues.
``(2) Assisting in developing training programs for Native
American language speakers and teachers through--
``(A) on-site training and university or college
courses;
``(B) summer training institutes;
``(C) materials-development workshops; and
``(D) regional seminars on Native American language
issues.
``(3) Examining the affects of local, State and Federal
education policies on the long-term survival of Native American
languages.
``(4) Examining the impact of culturally-responsive
curricula on Native American languages.
``(d) Use of Technology.--The demonstration program established
under this section may employ synchronic and asynchronic
telecommunications and other appropriate means to maintain coordination
and cooperation with participating Native American language survival
schools and Native American language nests.
``(e) Site Visit Evaluations.--The demonstration program
established under this section shall provide direction to the Secretary
in developing a site visit evaluation of Native American language
survival schools and Native American language nests.
``(f) Follow-Up and Data Collection.--The demonstration program
established under this section may conduct follow-up data collection
and analysis on students while the students are in school--
``(1) to assess how Native American language survival
school students are performing in comparison with other
students; and
``(2) to identify instructional methods that are working
and instructional methods that are not working.
``(g) Endowments and Facilities.--The demonstration program
established under this section may--
``(1) establish endowments to further the activities of the
demonstration program relating to the study and preservation of
Native American languages; and
``(2) use funds to provide for the rental, lease, purchase,
construction, maintenance, and repair of facilities.
``SEC. 111. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title
such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2007 through
2012.''.
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