HEINRICH, ARMSTRONG INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO GIVE TRIBES MORE FLEXIBILITY TO HIRE QUALIFIED NATIVE LANGUAGE EDUCATORS, PRESERVE NATIVE LANGUAGES

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 -- Sen. Martin Heinrich issued the following news release:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.) introduced the Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act, bipartisan legislation to give Tribal Head Start programs greater authority to determine how qualified educators can meet Head Start teaching requirements - helping Tribes hire more Native language educators and bring more fluent Native language speakers into the classroom. Tribal Head Start programs play a critical role in preserving and promoting Native languages, cultures, and traditions. But federal credentialing requirements can prevent Tribal programs from hiring qualified educators - particularly in communities with ...