Washington, D.C. -  The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) is proud to announce the publication of a new resource for states and districts to meet tribal consultation requirements in the  Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The publication "Building Relationships With Tribes: A Native Process for ESSA Consultation" is the first document to provide guidance to states on how to conduct consultation and will be distributed in conjunction with NIEA partner organizations. 

ESSA is the first education bill to require consultation with tribes and was a major victory for Native education advocates when it was passed in 2015 and will remain an important part of advocacy efforts moving forward. Partnerships between tribes and states can have incredible benefits for student attainment, states like Washington and Montana have consulted with tribes and advocates to bring Native histories and cultures into classrooms, a positive step in re-engaging Native students in the learning process.  NIEA believes that through the use of the tribal consultation guide, all states can take steps to meaningfully engage tribes when it comes to assessments, standards, and curriculum. 

Ahniwake Rose, Executive director of NIEA said, "Tribes and Native advocates have worked for decades to be active, engaged partners with states and school districts regarding the education of Native youth. The passage of ESSA was a critical first step in validating the necessity of these partnerships. Through the use of this guide, it is our hope that states and districts work in partnership with tribal nations to ensure that Native students have the opportunity to thrive in the classroom and beyond."

NIEA President Yatibaey Evans said,  "NIEA was founded to provide strategies and resources to education advocates and to ensure the voices of tribes are clearly and presently represented in education systems. This guide moves us towards completing that mission. Since our founding, NIEA has been, and will continue to be, a resource for those looking to improve the education of Native students."

To access "Building Relationships With Tribes: A Native Process for ESSA Consultation" and other resources, please visit NIEA.org.

About The National Indian Education Association (NIEA)

NIEA is the Nation's most inclusive advocacy organization advancing comprehensive culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Formed by Native educators in 1969 to encourage a national discourse on education, NIEA adheres to the organization's founding principles- to convene educators to explore ways to improve schools and the educational systems serving Native children; to promote the maintenance and continued development of language and cultural programs; and to develop and implement strategies for influencing local, state, and federal policy and decision makers. For more information visit www.niea.org.