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School districts fight for bigger share of Impact Aid
Thursday, September 28, 2006

Two public school districts that educate Pueblo and Navajo children in New Mexico are hoping to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that they deserve more federal funds.

The Gallup and Zuni school systems are challenging a formula used to distribute Impact Aid. The Education Department distributes the money to schools located on or near reservations to offset the inability to tax Indian lands.

Under the formula, the Education Department allows the state of New Mexico to take Impact Aid away from the two school districts. The schools say they are being shortchanged $50 million a year.

At issue is whether the department can define its own formula that appears to go against the will of Congress. Oral arguments in the case are expected in January.

Get the Story:
Schools say funds not calculated fairly (The Albuquerque Tribune 9/28)
Impact aid case going to high court (The Gallup Independent 9/27)

Zuni Public School District Documents:
Questions Presented | Petition | New Mexico Brief in Opposition | Department of Justice Brief in Opposition

Relevant Links:
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://doc.narf.org/sc/index.html

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