PRIVATIZATION PLAN OF INDIAN SCHOOLS TABLED
 Rebuff of Ill-advised Plan Makes Room for Real Reform

In the face of widespread opposition from Native American groups, teachers unions and congressional representatives, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officials have backed off a proposal to turn over 64 Indian schools that BIA manages to for-profit school operators.

"While we defeated this misguided effort, the real winners are the students," said Pat Carr, president of the Indian Educators Federation, which represents more than 8,000 BIA employees. "Now we can focus our attention on research-based programs with successful track records that can bring true reform to reservation schools."

The Indian Educators Federation, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, opposed the privatization plan because of the spotty success record of for-profit school operators. The BIA proposal, which was conceived without input from tribal or local leaders, also abandoned the federal government's commitment to manage Native American schools on reservations.

"What's needed is a school reform initiative that incorporates proven methods of raising student achievement, including research-based curriculum programs, extra help for lower-achieving students and increased professional development," Carr said.

"I'd like to see a cooperative arrangement  - the formation of a labor-management team that includes parents, teachers, tribal leaders and school officials," said Carr. "Together we can establish a plan to ensure that the people who profit from school reform are students, not shareholders."

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