# Understanding the NACIE Improvement Act

This bill makes two specific changes to how the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE) operates. NACIE is a group that advises the federal government on education policies affecting Native American students and tribes.

The first change requires that at least one member of this advisory council must be a president of a Tribal College or University. Right now, there's no guarantee that someone leading one of these institutions has a seat at the table. Tribal colleges are unique schools that serve Native American communities and often focus on culturally relevant education. By requiring their leadership to be represented, the bill ensures that the voices of people running these institutions directly influence federal education policy for Native Americans.

The second change is about making sure the council's advice actually gets used. Currently, NACIE produces annual reports that go to Congress, but there's no requirement that the Department of Education or Department of the Interior actually pay attention to them when they're planning budgets and policies. This bill requires both departments to consider NACIE's most recent annual report when they prepare their budget proposals to Congress. The Department of Interior also has to consult with a specific tribal budget committee when doing this. In practical terms, this means the recommendations from Native American education experts will have a formal role in shaping how federal education funding is allocated and what policies get prioritized for Indian education programs.

NACIE Improvement Act

Neguse, Joe

<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF">National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act or the NACIE Improvement Act This bill revises the membership and duties of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education. Specifically, the bill requires the President to ensure that the council includes at least one member who is the president of a tribal college or university. Additionally, the bill requires the council to submit its annual report to the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of the Interior. ED and Interior must consider the council's report when preparing their budget materials.</body></html>