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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, language championed by Alaskan Congressman Don Young to protect culturally-based learning and meaningful educational support for Alaska Native students was included in national education legislation introduced by the Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee John Kline (R-MN). Young was instrumental in developing the Native Education title within H.R. 5, the Student Success Act of 2015, which includes provisions to reauthorize $33 million in annual funding for the Alaska Native Education Program (ANEP).

“I was pleased to see Chairman Kline’s strong commitment in H.R. 5 to uphold the federal government’s trust relationship with our Native peoples,” said Congressman Don Young. “His leadership and support for programs like ANEP ensures that the education and future of Alaska Natives, and tribes throughout the country, remain a top priority.  My language, which was first adopted last Congress as an amendment to a version of H.R. 5, makes significant progress in providing the resources and support needed to confront the academic disparities faced by Native students throughout Alaska.  I appreciate the Chairman’s efforts to introduce this important legislation with my amendment and his willingness to help improve and refine the ANEP program.  In addition to the important funding we were able to include in H.R. 5, I look forward to incorporating additional updates to ANEP in the coming months based upon the input we’ve received from the Alaska Native community."

H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, would reform and reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which has not been updated since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. H.R. 5 makes a number of critical changes to federal K-12 education law, including Young’s amendment from the 113^th Congress that prevented the elimination of the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Education Equity programs and provided major policy improvements for both programs. Young’s language also restored and enhanced the American Indian grant program, which provides similar culturally-based benefits to tribes throughout the nation. The three programs, which are currently authorized under Title VII of the ESEA, have proven track records of increasing the academic achievement of Native students.

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