South Dakota panel backs Indian education office

The South Dakota State Senate Education Committee unanimously approved a bill to create a permanent Office of Indian Education, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports.

Gov. Mike Rounds (R) established the office and an Indian Education Advisory Council.. Citing the achievement gap among Indian students, supporters said both need to be permanent institutions.

The bill also requires all new teachers to take a course in South Dakota Indian studies and directs the office to offer Lakota language instruction to teachers.

The House already passed the bill.

Get the Story:
Senate backs Indian education office (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 2/28)
Bill would establish Indian education effort [scroll past story to read user comments] (AP 2/27)

National Indian Education Study:
Overview | Executive Summary | Full Report

Relevant Links:
National Center for Education Statistics - http://nces.ed.gov
Nation's Report Card - http://www.nationsreportcard.gov

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