Students and parents came together in April at the Indian Oasis Elementary School on the Tohono O'odham Nation for a volunteer appreciation event. Photo from Facebook

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is encouraging more tribes to secure waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act.

The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida was the first in Indian Country with a waiver. Other tribal leaders and educators are endorsing the idea as a way to emphasize culture and language in their communities.

“The Native kids need to know where they come from, they need to know their history,” Navajo Nation Council delegate Lee Jack Sr. told Cronkite News.

Edna Morris, the superintendent of a public school district on the Tohono O’odham Nation, wished the waiver concept had been around several years ago. She said it would have helped educators develop culturally appropriate standards with tribal communities.

Get the Story:
Arizona tribes eye plan for flexibility under No Child Left Behind (Cronkite News 6/12)

Relevant Documents:
Waiver Letter to Miccosukee Tribe (May 27, 2015)
Press Release: Miccosukee Indian School Receives Historic Flexibility to Meet Academic and Cultural Needs of Students (DOI June 1, 2015)

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Miccosukee Tribe secures first NCLB waiver in Indian Country (06/01)
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Education Department cites increase in Indian graduation rate (3/16)