WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and U.S. Rep. Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Democratic Chairman of the House Native American Caucus, issued the following statements after the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) released its National Indian Education Study. The study showed no significant gains in mathematics performance among fourth and eighth graders since 2005. Reading scores showed a slight increase since 2007 for eighth graders but again showed no significant improvement for fourth graders since 2005.
“The fact that our American Indian and Alaska Native students have not made any progress since 2005 is alarming and cause for major concern,” said Chairman Miller. “This report offers further proof that we need to focus significantly more attention on our American Indian and Alaska Native students in the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.”
“I am extremely disappointed that this NAEP report shows little to no improvement in reading and math achievement among American Indian and Alaska Native students. These results are unacceptable and further underscore the vital need to improve education in these communities. Thankfully, Congress has an important opportunity to address this issue with the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Miller, my other colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee, as well as Native American leaders and organizations to ensure that this reauthorization includes strong provisions to improve education for our American Indian and Alaska Native students,” said Congressman Kildee.
“I am extremely disappointed that this NAEP report shows little to no improvement in reading and math achievement among American Indian and Alaska Native students. These results are unacceptable and further underscore the vital need to improve education in these communities. Thankfully, Congress has an important opportunity to address this issue with the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Miller, my other colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee, as well as Native American leaders and organizations to ensure that this reauthorization includes strong provisions to improve education for our American Indian and Alaska Native students,” said Congressman Kildee.
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