蒙大拿州就原住民教育问责达成和解

蒙大拿州公共教学办公室与一群学生、家庭和部落达成和解协议，解决一项关于该州未能有效实施宪法规定的原住民教育要求的多年法律纠纷 1。这起纠纷源于2021年提起的一项集体诉讼 1。

蒙大拿州于1999年通过《全民印第安教育法》（IEFA），并自2007年起每年拨款约350万美元 1。2019年和2020年，仅有10%的学区能说明IEFA资金用于适当支出 1。根据和解协议，蒙大拿州公共教学办公室须建立问责机制，包括使用认证系统要求学区提供IEFA实施证据、建立执法机制、加强部落协商流程以及要求学校报告IEFA支出 1。此外，协议要求建立年度评估机制，至少评估7所学校的IEFA支出 1。2025年5月，蒙大拿州公共教育委员会同意了另一项和解协议 1。

Montana's Office of Public Instruction has reached a settlement agreement with a group of students, families, and tribes to resolve a years-long legal dispute regarding the state's failure to effectively implement constitutionally mandated Indigenous education requirements 1. The dispute stems from a class-action lawsuit filed in 2021 over the implementation of the Indian Education for All Act (IEFA), which was passed in 1999 1. Although approximately $3.5 million has been allocated annually for this purpose since 2007, only 10% of school districts were able to account for IEFA funds being used for appropriate expenditures in 2019 and 2020 1.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Office of Public Instruction is required to establish accountability mechanisms 1. These measures include using a certification system that mandates school districts to provide evidence of IEFA implementation, establishing enforcement mechanisms, strengthening tribal consultation processes, and requiring schools to report IEFA expenditures 1. Additionally, an annual evaluation mechanism must be established to assess IEFA spending in at least seven schools 1. In a related development, the Montana Board of Public Education agreed to another settlement agreement in May 2025 1.