American Indian education.

Existing law creates the American Indian Education Unit in the State Department of Education to provide technical support to, and proper administrative oversight of, American Indian education programs established by the state in order to ensure that American Indian pupils in California public schools are able to meet specified challenging academic standards. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation that supports the academic growth and well-being of Native American pupils in California by expanding the American Indian Education Centers program to serve a greater number of Native American pupils in California, supporting and promoting meaningful and timely consultation between local educational agencies and appropriate officials and representatives of tribal governments regarding the education of Native American pupils, and ensuring an adequate level of staffing at the State Department of Education to support local educational agencies and tribes in implementing effective practices to serve Native American pupils and to meet requirements of state and federal law.