Alaska Native education programs face Bush cut

Thursday, March 22, 2007  

Alaska's Congressional delegation is angry that the Bush administration wants to cut $100 million package in Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian education programs.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) and Rep. Don Young (R) are working to restore the money. Cuts include the $34 million Native Education Program that funds college courses, $12 million higher education program for Alaska and Hawaii and a $3 million cultural and historical learning program.

Stevens accused the administration of not understanding the unique needs of Alaska and Hawaii. He said the programs are not earmarks but are authorized by law. He also noted that the Education Department is trying to eliminate a $73 million nationwide physical education program he created.

Murkowski said the cuts would endanger Alaska Native student performance by the No Child Left Behind Act. "You are jeopardizing the very programs that give Native Alaskans the edge forward they need," she told Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, The Anchorage Daily News reported.

Get the Story:
Cuts strike at Native education (The Anchorage Daily News 3/22)
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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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