A bill sponsored by Representative Christine Watkins and Senator Ronald Winterton that aims to provide education support for the state’s K-12 Indigenous population is headed to the Governor’s desk. HB 75 ‘American Indian and Alaska Native Education Amendments’ expands authorized expenditures under a program that provides grants targeted to the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students and addresses the adoption of the American Indian and Alaska Native education state plan. It also requires the state board of education to adopt a plan to address the education gap of indigenous students by January 1st, 2027. The plan must identify the most critical academic needs and recommend a course of action to meet those needs of these students. Schools with the highest percentage of Native students would receive focus first. In the Uintah Basin, that list includes Eagle View Elementary and Uintah River High School. HB 75 passed in both the House and Senate and is now headed to the Governor’s desk.
