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Impact Aid Policies and Procedures

Indian Policies and Procedures 

Niobrara School District 

2024-2025 School Year

These policies and procedures will be reviewed annually, and revisions will be made within 90 days of the determination that requirements are not being adequately met. [34 CFR 222.94(c)2-3]

All changes become effective upon board approval.  

Tribe’s preferred method(s) of communication:  Email

Policy 1: The LEA will disseminate relevant applications, evaluations, program plans, and information related to the LEA's education program and activities with sufficient advance notice to allow tribes and parents of Indian children the opportunity to review and make recommendations. [34 CFR 222.94(b)(1)]

Procedure 1: The school district will disseminate the following documents to the parents of Indian children and the tribe at least one week in advance of any meeting to discuss these documents. The documents will be disseminated using email. The documents to be disseminated include:

• Current year Impact Aid application

• Assessment/Evaluation of Equal Participation 

• Indian Policies Procedures (IPPs)

• Any Plans for District education programs

• Written responses to feedback from the consultation process.

Policy 2: The LEA will provide an opportunity for the tribe and parents of Indian children to provide their views on the LEA’s educational program and activities, including recommendations on the needs of their children and how the LEA may help those children realize the benefits of the LEA’s education programs and activities. [34 CFR 222.94(b)(2)] 

As a part of this requirement, the LEA will-

(i) Notify tribes and the parents of Indian children of the opportunity to submit comments and     recommendations, considering the tribe's preference for method of communication, and

(ii) Modify the method of and time for soliciting Indian views, if necessary, to ensure the maximum participation of tribes and parents of Indian children. 

Procedure 2: 

2.1 The School District will hold one annual board meeting to allow the parents of Indian children and the tribe(s) to provide input on the educational program and activities. The School District will give parents of Indian children, tribes, and the public notice of any meeting at least one week in advance via email.

2. If the consultation participation by parents of Indian children and tribes is low, the School District will re-evaluate its consultation process.  Specifically, the School District will take the following measures to improve or enhance participation:  Consult with parents of Indian children and tribes.

Policy 3: The LEA will, at least annually, assess the extent to which Indian children participate on an equal basis with non-Indian children in the LEA’s education program and activities. [34 CFR 222.94(b)(3)] 

As part of this requirement, the LEA will:
(i) Share relevant information related to Indian children's participation in the LEA's education program and activities with tribes and parents of Indian children; and

(ii) Allow tribes and parents of Indian children the opportunity and time to review and comment on whether Indian children participate on an equal basis with non-Indian children. 

Procedure 3: 

3.1 The School District shall annually calculate from its records the number of Indian children compared to non-Indian children participating in all academic and extracurricular programs.      

3.2 Parents of Indian children, tribes and other interested parties may express their views on participation at the annual school board meeting on Impact Aid. 

3.3 If it is determined that there are gaps in Indian participation in the educational program or activities, the School Board in consultation with the tribes and the parents of Indian children, will modify its education program in such a way as to improve Indian participation.

Policy 4: The LEA will modify the IPPs if necessary, based upon the results of any assessment or input described in paragraph (b) of this section (this document). [34CFR222.94(b)(4)]

Procedure 4: 

4.1 The School Board will schedule a school board meeting at least once annually to consult with the tribe and parents of Indian children on the content of the IPPs, equal participation, and educational program and activities.  Parents of Indian children and tribes will be notified via the tribe’s preferred method of communication regarding this meeting and their ability to submit comments. 

4.2 The School Board will evaluate all recommendations and recommend revisions for changes to these IPPs.

4.3 Any changes by the School Board will become effective immediately upon formal adoption. 

4.5 The School District will disseminate copies of the revised IPPs to the tribe and parents of Indian children via email within 30 days of adoption by the School Board.

Policy 5: The LEA will respond at least annually in writing to comments and recommendations made by tribes or parents of Indian children and disseminate the responses to the tribe and parents of Indian children prior to the submission of the IPPs by the LEA. [34CFR222.94(b)(5)]

Procedure 5: 

5.1 The School District will annually keep track of and assemble all comments and suggestions received through the consultation processes by keeping minutes at the school board meeting to discuss Impact Aid. 

5.2 The School District will at least annually respond in writing to comments and recommendations made by tribes, or parents of Indian children, and disseminate the responses to all parties via email prior to the submission of the IPPs by the District.
 

Policy 6: The LEA will provide a copy of the IPPs annually to the affected tribe or tribes. [34 CFR 222.94 (b)(6)]
 

Procedure 6: 

The School District will annually provide a copy of the current Indian Policies and Procedures to the tribe using email prior to submitting the Impact Aid Application. 

LEA Board Approval Date: October 15, 2024