On December 16, 2024, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recommended that 44 tribal entities be awarded more than $276 million to expand high-speed Internet access and adoption. These grants are from the second round of funding, which made nearly $1 billion available for deploying Internet infrastructure on Tribal Lands, affordability programs, telehealth, and distance learning initiatives.

Understanding and navigating education policy is essential for all who engage in the educational sector, as these policies shape the experiences of students, educators, and communities by defining the standards and expectations of educational systems. This FAQ guide provides a pathway to critically reading and evaluating education policy, highlighting the importance of centering Indigenous knowledge and voices in policy discussions. It also addresses common challenges and identifies the diverse stakeholders who benefit from this work.

Despite many advancements in broadband connectivity over the past three years, Native American communities still lack critical internet infrastructure development to achieve meaningful internet access. Federal programs like the BEAD Program and the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program are focused on addressing the need for internet infrastructure; however, meaningful internet access means more than just need.  The true extent of “meaningful” considers both need and how people are able to benefit and participate in work, school fully, and all the other aspects of online life.
In the governance and regulation of society, law and policy play distinct yet essential roles. While both maintain order and guide behavior, they function differently and serve unique purposes. This document provides an overview of law and policy as they relate to education. Specifically, in the context of Indian Education, this document aims to help educators understand the relationship between education law and policy to support the success of Native American students.

The decision in  Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. is just as impactful as the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade,  its ruling on Presidential immunity, or any of the other recent blockbuster decisions. On its face, Loper Bright appeared to be a rather benign case involving commercial fishing vessels and whether private parties had to pay for federal observers on those vessels for purposes of monitoring possible overfishing – a scenario with little relevance to most tribes.

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