Indian education personnel
In general
Regulations
Not later than 60 days after
the establishment of education positions;
the establishment of qualifications for educators and education personnel;
the fixing of basic compensation for educators and education positions;
the appointment of educators;
the discharge of educators;
the entitlement of educators to compensation;
the payment of compensation to educators;
the conditions of employment of educators;
the leave system for educators;
the annual leave and sick leave for educators;
the length of the school year applicable to education positions described in subsection (a); and
such additional matters as may be appropriate.
Qualifications of educators
Requirements
In prescribing regulations to govern the qualifications of educators, the Secretary shall require that—
lists of qualified and interviewed applicants for education positions be maintained in each agency and area office of the Bureau from among individuals who have applied at the agency or area level for an education position or who have applied at the national level and have indicated in such application an interest in working in certain areas or agencies;
a local school board shall have the authority to waive on a case-by-case basis, any formal education or degree qualifications established by regulation pursuant to subsection (b)(2), in order for a tribal member to be hired in an education position to teach courses on tribal culture and language and that subject to subsection (e)(2), a determination by a school board that such a person be hired shall be instituted by the supervisor of the school involved; and
that 1
such individual’s name appear on a list maintained pursuant to subparagraph (A); or
such individual have applied at the national level for an education position.
Exception for certain temporary employment
Hiring of educators
Requirements
In prescribing regulations to govern the appointment of educators, the Secretary shall require—
that educators employed in a Bureau school (other than the supervisor of the school) shall be hired by the supervisor of the school; and
in a case in which there are no qualified applicants available to fill a vacancy at a Bureau school, the supervisor may consult a list maintained pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A);
each supervisor of a Bureau school shall be hired by the education line officer of the agency office of the Bureau for the jurisdiction in which the school is located;
each educator employed in an agency office of the Bureau shall be hired by the superintendent for education of the agency office; and
each education line officer and educator employed in the office of the Director of the Office shall be hired by the Director;
before an individual is employed in an education position in a Bureau school by the supervisor of the school (or, with respect to the position of supervisor, by the appropriate agency education line officer), the local school board for the school shall be consulted; and
that a determination by such school board, as evidenced by school board records, that such individual should or should not be so employed shall be instituted by the supervisor (or with respect to the position of supervisor, by the superintendent for education of the agency office);
before an individual is employed in an education position in an agency or area office of the Bureau, the appropriate agency school board shall be consulted; and
a determination by such school board, as evidenced by school board records, that such individual should or should not be employed shall be instituted by the superintendent for education of the agency office; and
all employment decisions or actions be in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and tribal laws.
Information regarding application at national level
In general
Determination of accuracy
False statements
Conditional appointment for national provision
Statutory construction
Appeals
By supervisor
In general
Action by board
Overturning of determination
Transmission of determination
By education line officer
In general
Action by board
Overturning of determination
Transmission of determination
Other appeals
In general
Action by board
Overturning of determination
Transmission of determination
Discharge and conditions of employment of educators
Regulations
In promulgating regulations to govern the discharge and conditions of employment of educators, the Secretary shall require—
that procedures shall be established for the rapid and equitable resolution of grievances of educators;
that no educator may be discharged without notice of the reasons for the discharge and an opportunity for a hearing under procedures that comport with the requirements of due process; and
that each educator employed in a Bureau school shall be notified 30 days prior to the end of an academic year whether the employment contract of the individual will be renewed for the following year.
Procedures for discharge
Determinations
In general
Notification of board
Determination by board
Appeals
In general
Decision of agency education line officer
Form of decision
Recommendations of school boards for discharge
Each local school board for a Bureau school shall have the right—
to recommend to the supervisor that an educator employed in the school be discharged; and
to recommend to the education line officer of the appropriate agency office of the Bureau and to the Director of the Office, that the supervisor of the school be discharged.
Applicability of Indian preference laws
Applicability
In general
Notwithstanding any provision of the Indian preference laws, such laws shall not apply in the case of any personnel action carried out under this section with respect to an applicant or employee not entitled to an Indian preference if each tribal organization concerned—
grants a written waiver of the application of those laws with respect to the personnel action; and
states that the waiver is necessary.
No effect on responsibility of Bureau
Definitions
In this subsection:
Indian preference laws
In general
Tribal organization
The term “tribal organization” means—
the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized community, including a Native village (as defined in section 1602(c) of title 43); or
in connection with any personnel action referred to in this subsection, any local school board to which the governing body has delegated the authority to grant a waiver under this subsection with respect to a personnel action.
Compensation or annual salary
In general
Compensation for educators and education positions
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary shall establish the compensation or annual salary rate for educators and education positions—
at rates in effect under the General Schedule for individuals with comparable qualifications, and holding comparable positions, to whom chapter 51 of title 5 is applicable; or
on the basis of the Federal Wage System schedule in effect for the locality involved, and for the comparable positions, at the rates of compensation in effect for the senior executive service.
Compensation or salary for teachers and counselors
In general
Essential provisions
Rates for new hires
In general
Consistent rates
Decreases
Increases
In a case in which adoption of rates under clause (i) leads to an increase in the payment of compensation from that which was in effect for the fiscal year following
the increase occurs in its entirety; or
the increase is applied in three equal installments.
Use of regulations; continued employment of certain educators
The establishment of rates of basic compensation and annual salary rates under subparagraphs (B) and (C) shall not—
preclude the use of regulations and procedures used by the Bureau prior to
affect the continued employment or compensation of an educator who was employed in an education position on
Post differential rates
In general
Supervisor’s authority
In general
Exception
The Secretary shall disapprove, or approve with a modification, a request for authorization to provide a post differential rate if the Secretary determines for clear and convincing reasons (and advises the board in writing of those reasons) that the rate should be disapproved or decreased because the disparity of compensation between the appropriate educators or positions in the Bureau school, and the comparable educators or positions at the nearest public school, is—
at least 5 percent; or
less than 5 percent; and
does not affect the recruitment or retention of employees at the school.
Approval of requests
Discontinuation of or decrease in rates
The Secretary or the supervisor of a Bureau school may discontinue or decrease a post differential rate provided for under this paragraph at the beginning of an academic year if—
the local school board requests that such differential be discontinued or decreased; or
the Secretary or the supervisor, respectively, determines for clear and convincing reasons (and advises the board in writing of those reasons) that there is no disparity of compensation that would affect the recruitment or retention of employees at the school after the differential is discontinued or decreased.
Reports
Liquidation of remaining leave upon termination
Transfer of remaining sick leave upon transfer, promotion, or reemployment
Ineligibility for employment of voluntarily terminated educators
Dual compensation
In the case of any educator employed in an education position described in subsection (l)(1)(A) 4
is employed at the close of a school year;
agrees in writing to serve in such position for the next school year; and
is employed in another position during the recess period immediately preceding such next school year, or during such recess period receives additional compensation referred to in section 5533 of title 5, relating to dual compensation,
shall not apply to such educator by reason of any such employment during a recess period for any receipt of additional compensation.
Voluntary services
In general
Federal employee protection
Federal status
Proration of pay
Election of employee
In general
Election
No loss of pay or benefits
Change of election
Lump sum payment
Nonapplicability
Definitions
Extracurricular activities
Stipend
In general
Provision to employees
Nature of stipend
Election not to receive stipend
Applicability of subsection
Definitions
In this section:
Education position
The term “education position” means a position in the Bureau the duties and responsibilities of which—
are performed on a school year basis principally in a Bureau school; and
involve—
classroom or other instruction or the supervision or direction of classroom or other instruction;
any activity (other than teaching) which requires academic credits in educational theory and practice equal to the academic credits in educational theory and practice required for a bachelor’s degree in education from an accredited institution of higher education;
any activity in or related to the field of education notwithstanding that academic credits in educational theory and practice are not a formal requirement for the conduct of such activity; or
support services at, or associated with, the site of the school; or
are performed at the agency level of the Bureau and involve the implementation of education-related programs other than the position for agency superintendent for education.
Educator
Covered individuals; election
Furlough without consent
In general
An educator who was employed in an education position on
the supervisor, with the approval of the local school board (or of the education line officer upon appeal under paragraph (2)), of the Bureau school at which such educator provides services determines that a longer period of furlough is necessary due to an insufficient amount of funds available for personnel compensation at such school, as determined under the financial plan process as determined under section 2009(b) 6
all educators (other than principals and clerical employees) providing services at such Bureau school are placed on furloughs of equal length, except that the supervisor, with the approval of the local school board (or of the agency education line officer upon appeal under paragraph (2)), may continue one or more educators in pay status if—
such educators are needed to operate summer programs, attend summer training sessions, or participate in special activities including curriculum development committees; and
such educators are selected based upon such educator’s qualifications after public notice of the minimum qualifications reasonably necessary and without discrimination as to supervisory, nonsupervisory, or other status of the educators who apply.