,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #aidh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #af1 #bjad,mr4 ,tester 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,begich1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,south ,dakota1 and ,mr4 ,baucus7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,indian ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to promote the academic achievement of ,american ,indian1 ,alaska ,native1 and ,native ,hawaiian children with the establishment of a ,native ,american language grant program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,native ,language ,immersion ,student ,achievement ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,congress established the unique status of ,native ,american languages and distinctive policies supporting their use as a medium of education in the ,native ,american ,languages ,act 7,public ,law #aja-dgg74 7#b7 ,reports from the ,bureau of ,indian ,affairs and tribal1 public1 charter1 and private schools and colleges that use primarily ,native ,american languages to deliver education1 have indicated that students from these schools have generally had high school graduation and college attendance rates above the norm for their peers4 7#c7 ,the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcja et seq47 includes policy barriers to schools taught through ,native ,american languages and a lack of adequate funding to support such opportunities4 7#d7 ,there is a critical need that requires immediate action to support education through ,native ,american languages to preserve these languages4 #c4 ,native ,american language schools ,title ,,vii of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gdja et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 ,d ,native ,american language schools #gdja4 ,native ,american language schools 7a7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this section are-- 7#a7 to establish a grant program to support schools using ,native ,american languages as the primary language of instruction of all curriculum taught at the school that will improve high school graduation rates1 college attainment1 and career readiness2 and 7#b7 to further integrate into this ,act1 ,federal policy for such schools1 as established in the ,native ,american ,languages ,act 7,public ,law #aja-dgg74 7b7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,from the amounts made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary may award grants to eligible entities to develop and maintain1 or to improve and expand1 programs that support schools1 including prekindergarten through postsecondary education1 using ,native ,american languages as the primary language of instruction of all curriculum taught at the schools4 7#b7 ,eligible entities ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means a school or a private or tribal1 nonprofit organization that has a plan to develop and maintain1 or to improve and expand1 programs that support schools using ,native ,american languages as the primary language of instruction of all curriculum taught at the schools4 7c7 ,application 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including the following3 7,a7 ,the name of the ,native ,american language to be used for instruction at the school supported by the eligible entity4 7,b7 ,the number of students attending such school4 7,c7 ,the number of present hours of ,native ,american language instruction being provided to students at such school1 if any4 7,d7 ,the status of such school with regard to any applicable tribal education department or agency1 public education system1 indigenous language schooling research and cooperative1 or accrediting body4 7,e7 ,a statement that such school-- 7i7 is engaged in meeting targeted proficiency levels for students1 as may be required by applicable ,federal1 ,state1 or tribal law2 and 7ii7 provides assessments of student using the ,native ,american language of instruction1 where appropriate4 7,f7 ,a list of the instructors1 staff1 administrators1 contractors1 or subcontractors at such school and their qualifications to deliver high quality education through the ,native ,american language of the school4 7#b7 ,additional application materials ,in addition to the application described in paragraph 7#a71 an eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary the following3 7,a7 ,a certification from a ,federally recognized ,indian tribe1 or a letter from any ,native ,american entity1 on whose land the school supported by the eligible entity is located1 or which is served by such school1 indicating that the school has the capacity to provide education primarily through a ,native ,american language and that there are sufficient speakers of such ,native ,american language at the school or available to be hired by the school4 7,b7 ,a statement that such school will participate in data collection conducted by the ,secretary that will determine best practices and further academic evaluation of the school4 7,c7 ,a demonstration of the capacity to have speakers of its ,native ,american language provide the basic education offered by such school on a full-time basis4 7d7 ,awarding of grants ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 determine the amount and length of each grant2 7#b7 ensure1 to the maximum extent feasible1 that diversity in languages is represented2 and 7#c7 require the eligible entities to present a ,native language education plan to improve high school graduation rates1 college attainment1 and career readiness4 7e7 ,activities authorized ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall carry out the following activities3 7#a7 ,support ,native ,american language education and development4 7#b7 ,develop or refine instructional curriculum for the school supported by the eligible entity1 including distinctive teaching materials and activities1 as appropriate4 7#c7 ,fund training opportunities for teachers and1 as appropriate1 staff and administrators1 that would strengthen the overall language and academic goals of such school4 7#d7 ,other activities that promote ,native ,american language education and development1 as appropriate4 7f7 ,report to secretary ,each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall provide an annual report to the ,secretary in such form and manner as the ,secretary may require4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriation ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjae1 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the #d succeeding fiscal years4 4