The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing this afternoon on the No Child Left Behind Act and its impact on Indian students.

The hearing lasted about 90 minutes. The most interesting remarks came from Mariah Bowers, an 18-year-old member of the Yurok Tribe of California, who testified via Skype about the struggles she faced in school before she found success with the help of a culturally-relevant education.

Audio clips of the hearing are available below:

• Opening Remarks

Panel # 1
• Testimony | Q&A
Charles P. Rose
General Counsel, Department of Education

Keith Moore
Director, Bureau of Indian Education

Panel # 2
• Testimony | Q&A
The Honorable Chad Smith
Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma

Mariah Bowers
Hoopa Valley Tribe

Mary Jane Oatman-Wak wak
President Elect, National Indian Education Association

David Beaulieu
Former director of the Office of Indian Education, Department of Education

Committee Hearing:
OVERSIGHT HEARING on Indian Education: Did the No Child Left Behind Act Leave Indian Students Behind (June 17, 2010)

OIG Report:
Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education: Schools in Need of Immediate Action (May 2007)

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