2007 Minnesota Statutes

124D.74 AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
    Subdivision 1. Program described. American Indian education programs are programs in
public elementary and secondary schools, nonsectarian nonpublic, community, tribal, charter, or
alternative schools enrolling American Indian children designed to:
(1) support postsecondary preparation for pupils;
(2) support the academic achievement of American Indian students with identified focus to
improve reading and mathematic skills;
(3) make the curriculum more relevant to the needs, interests, and cultural heritage of
American Indian pupils;
(4) provide positive reinforcement of the self-image of American Indian pupils;
(5) develop intercultural awareness among pupils, parents, and staff; and
(6) supplement, not supplant, state and federal educational and cocurricular programs.
Program components may include: development of support components for students in the areas
of academic achievement, retention, and attendance; development of support components for
staff, including in-service training and technical assistance in methods of teaching American
Indian pupils; research projects, including experimentation with and evaluation of methods of
relating to American Indian pupils; provision of personal and vocational counseling to American
Indian pupils; modification of curriculum, instructional methods, and administrative procedures
to meet the needs of American Indian pupils; and supplemental instruction in American Indian
language, literature, history, and culture. Districts offering programs may make contracts for the
provision of program components by establishing cooperative liaisons with tribal programs and
American Indian social service agencies. These programs may also be provided as components of
early childhood and family education programs.
    Subd. 2. Voluntary enrollment. Enrollment in American Indian education programs must be
voluntary. School districts and participating schools must make affirmative efforts to encourage
participation. They shall encourage parents to visit classes or come to school for a conference
explaining the nature of the program and provide visits by school staff to parents' homes to
explain the nature of the program.
    Subd. 3. Enrollment of other children; shared time enrollment. To the extent it is
economically feasible, a district or participating school may make provision for the voluntary
enrollment of non-American Indian children in the instructional components of an American
Indian education program in order that they may acquire an understanding of the cultural heritage
of the American Indian children for whom that particular program is designed. However, in
determining eligibility to participate in a program, priority must be given to American Indian
children. American Indian children and other children enrolled in an existing nonpublic school
system may be enrolled on a shared time basis in American Indian education programs.
    Subd. 4. Location of programs. American Indian education programs must be located in
facilities in which regular classes in a variety of subjects are offered on a daily basis. Programs
may operate on an extended day or extended year basis.
    Subd. 5. Assignment of students. A school district or participating school must not, in
providing these programs, assign students to schools in a way which will have the effect of
promoting segregation of students by race, sex, color, or national origin.
    Subd. 6. Nonverbal courses and extracurricular activities. In predominantly nonverbal
subjects, such as art, music, and physical education, American Indian children shall participate
fully and on an equal basis with their contemporaries in school classes provided for these subjects.
Every school district or participating school shall ensure to children enrolled in American Indian
education programs an equal and meaningful opportunity to participate fully with other children
in all extracurricular activities. This subdivision shall not be construed to prohibit instruction
in nonverbal subjects or extracurricular activities which relate to the cultural heritage of the
American Indian children, or which are otherwise necessary to accomplish the objectives
described in sections 124D.71 to 124D.82.
History: 1977 c 312 s 4; 1998 c 397 art 2 s 138-142,164; art 11 s 3; 1Sp2001 c 6 art 2 s
34-38; 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 68