[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 18 (Monday, May 3, 2004)]
[Pages 713-715]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13336--American Indian and Alaska Native Education

April 30, 2004

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and to recognize the unique 
educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian and 
Alaska Native students consistent with the unique political and legal 
relationship of the Federal Government with tribal governments, it is 
hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Purpose. The United States has a unique legal 
relationship with Indian tribes and a special relationship with Alaska 
Native entities as provided in the Constitution of the United States, 
treaties, and Federal statutes. This Administration is committed to 
continuing to work with these Federally recognized tribal governments on 
a government-to-government basis, and supports tribal sovereignty and 
self-determination. It is the purpose of this order to assist American 
Indian and Alaska Native students in meeting the challenging student 
academic standards of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 
107-110) in a manner that is consistent with tribal traditions, 
languages, and cultures. This order builds on the innovations, reforms, 
and high standards of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, including: 
stronger accountability for results; greater flexibility in the use of 
Federal funds; more choices for parents; and an emphasis on research-
based instruction that works.
    Sec. 2. Interagency Working Group. There is established an 
Interagency Working Group on American Indian and Alaska Native Education 
(Working Group) to oversee the implementation of this order.
    (a) The Working Group's members shall consist exclusively of the 
heads of the executive branch departments, agencies, or offices listed 
below:
 (i)         the Department of Education;
 (ii)        the Department of the Interior;
 (iii)       the Department of Health and Human Services;
 (iv)        the Department of Agriculture;
 (v)         the Department of Justice;
 (vi)        the Department of Labor; and
 (vii)       such other executive branch departments, agencies, or 
            offices as the Co-Chairs of the Working Group may designate.
    A member of the Working Group may designate, to perform the Working 
Group functions of the member, an employee of the member's department, 
agency, or office who is either an officer of the United States 
appointed by the President, or a full-time employee serving in a 
position with pay equal to or greater than the minimum rate payable for 
GS-15 of the General Schedule. The Working Group shall be led by the 
Secretaries of Education and the Interior, or their designees under this 
section, who shall serve as Co-Chairs.
    (b) The function of the Working Group is to oversee the 
implementation of this order. The Working Group shall, within 90 days of 
the date of this order, develop a Federal interagency plan that 
recommends initiatives, strategies, and ideas for future interagency 
actions that promote the purpose, as stated in section 1, of this order. 
In carrying out its activities under this order, the Working Group may 
consult with representatives of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes 
and organizations, in conformity with Executive Order 13175 of November 
6, 2000, and with the National Advisory Council on Indian Education 
(NACIE). Any such consultations shall be for the purpose of obtaining 
information and advice concerning American Indian and Alaska Native 
education and shall be conducted in a manner that seeks individual 
advice and does not involve collective judgment or consensus advice or 
deliberation.
    Sec. 3. Study and Report. The Secretary of Education, in 
coordination with the Working Group, shall conduct a multi-year study

[[Page 714]]

of American Indian and Alaska Native education with the purpose of 
improving American Indian and Alaska Native students' ability to meet 
the challenging student academic standards of the No Child Left Behind 
Act of 2001.
    (a) The study shall include, but not be limited to:
 (i)         the compilation of comprehensive data on the academic 
            achievement and progress of American Indian and Alaska 
            Native students toward meeting the challenging student 
            academic standards of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001;
 (ii)        identification and dissemination of research-based 
            practices and proven methods in raising academic achievement 
            and, in particular, reading achievement, of American Indian 
            and Alaska Native students;
 (iii)       assessment of the impact and role of native language and 
            culture on the development of educational strategies to 
            improve academic achievement;
 (iv)        development of methods to strengthen early childhood 
            education so that American Indian and Alaska Native students 
            enter school ready to learn; and
 (v)         development of methods to increase the high school 
            graduation rate and develop pathways to college and the 
            workplace for American Indian and Alaska Native students.
    The Secretary of Education shall develop an agenda, including 
proposed timelines and ongoing activities, for the conduct of the study, 
and shall make that agenda available to the public on the Internet.
    (b) The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Working 
Group, shall issue a report to the President that shall:

 (i)         provide the latest data available from the study;
 (ii)        comprehensively describe the educational status and 
            progress of American Indian and Alaska Native students with 
            respect to meeting the goals outlined in the No Child Left 
            Behind Act of 2001 and any other student achievement goals 
            the Secretary of Education or the Secretary of the Interior 
            may deem necessary;
 (iii)       report on proven methods for improving American Indian and 
            Alaska Native student academic achievement; and
 (iv)        update the Federal interagency plan outlined in section 
            2(b) of this order.
    Sec. 4. Enhancement of Research Capabilities of Tribal-Level 
Educational Institutions. The Secretary of Education and the Secretary 
of the Interior shall consult with the entities set forth in section 
2(a) of this order and tribally controlled colleges and universities to 
seek ways to develop and enhance the capacity of tribal governments, 
tribal universities and colleges, and schools and educational programs 
serving American Indian and Alaska Native students and communities to 
carry out, disseminate, and implement education research, as well as to 
develop related partnerships or collaborations with non-tribal 
universities, colleges, and research organizations.
    Sec. 5. National Conference. The Secretary of Education and the 
Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the Working Group and 
Federal, State, tribal, and local government representatives, shall 
jointly convene a forum on the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 to 
identify means to enhance communication, collaboration, and cooperative 
strategies to improve the education of American Indian and Alaska Native 
students attending Federal, State, tribal, and local schools.
    Sec. 6. Administration. The Department of Education shall provide 
appropriate administrative services and staff support to the Working 
Group. With the consent of the Department of Education, other 
participating agencies may provide administrative support to the Working 
Group, to the extent permitted by law and consistent with their 
statutory authority.
    Sec. 7. Termination. The Working Group established under section 2 
of this order shall terminate not later than 5 years from the date of 
this order, unless extended by the President.
    Sec. 8. Consultation. The Secretary of Education and Secretary of 
the Interior shall consult the Attorney General as appropriate

[[Page 715]]

on the implementation of this order, to ensure that such implementation 
affords the equal protection of the laws required by the due process 
clause of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.
    Sec. 9. General Provisions.
    (a) This order is intended only to improve the internal management 
of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any 
right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, 
enforceable at law or equity, by a party against the United States, its 
agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or employees, or any other 
person.
    (b) Executive Order 13096 of August 6, 1998, is revoked.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 April 30, 2004.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 4, 2004]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
May 5.