---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 7453"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "7453"
heading: "Native American and Alaska Native language immersion schools and programs"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/7453"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools"
  - "Subchapter VI — Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native Education"
  - "Part A — Indian Education"
  - "Subpart 3 — national activities"
---

# §7453. Native American and Alaska Native language immersion schools and programs

- (a) **Purposes—** The purposes of this section are—
  - (1) to establish a grant program to support [schools](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) that use [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) and [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) languages as the primary language of instruction;
  - (2) to maintain, protect, and promote the rights and freedom of [Native Americans](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) and [Alaska Natives](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) to use, practice, maintain, and revitalize their languages, as envisioned in the Native American Languages Act ([25 U.S.C. 2901](/usc/25/2901.md) et seq.); and
  - (3) to support the Nation’s First Peoples’ efforts to maintain and revitalize their languages and cultures, and to improve educational opportunities and student outcomes within [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) and [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) communities.
- (b) **Program authorized—**
  - (1) **In general—** From [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3) reserved under [section 7492(c) of this title](/usc/20/7492.md?p=c), the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall reserve 20 percent to make grants to [eligible entities](#b-2) to develop and maintain, or to improve and expand, programs that support [schools](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11), including [elementary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=19) and [secondary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=45) education sites and streams, using [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) and [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) languages as the primary languages of instruction.
  - (2) **Eligible entities—** In this subsection, the term “eligible entity” means any of the following entities that has a plan to develop and maintain, or to improve and expand, programs that support the entity’s use of a [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language as the primary language of instruction in [elementary schools](/usc/20/7801.md?p=19) or [secondary schools](/usc/20/7801.md?p=45), or both:
    - (A) An [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) tribe.
    - (B) A Tribal College or University (as defined in [section 1059c of this title](/usc/20/1059c.md)).
    - (C) A tribal education agency.
    - (D) A [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A), including a public [charter school](/usc/20/2302.md?p=9) that is a [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) under [State](/usc/20/7801.md?p=48) law.
    - (E) A [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) operated by the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) Education.
    - (F) An [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) Regional Corporation (as described in [section 1602(g) of title 43](/usc/43/1602.md?p=g)).
    - (G) A private, tribal, or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) nonprofit organization.
    - (H) A nontribal for-profit organization.
- (c) **Application—**
  - (1) **In general—** An eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) at such time and in such manner as the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may require, including the following:
    - (A) The name of the [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language to be used for instruction at the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) supported by the eligible entity.
    - (B) The number of students attending such [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11).
    - (C) The number of hours of instruction in or through 1 or more [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) languages being provided to targeted students at such [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11), if any.
    - (D) A description of how the eligible entity will—
      - (i) use the [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3) provided to meet the purposes of this section;
      - (ii) implement the activities described in [subsection (e)](#e);
      - (iii) ensure the implementation of rigorous academic content; and
      - (iv) ensure that students progress toward high-level fluency goals.
    - (E) Information regarding the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11)’s organizational governance or affiliations, including information about—
      - (i) the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) governing entity (such as a [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A), tribal education agency or [department](/usc/20/7801.md?p=13), charter organization, private organization, or other governing entity);
      - (ii) the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11)’s accreditation status;
      - (iii) any partnerships with institutions of higher education; and
      - (iv) any indigenous language schooling and research cooperatives.
    - (F) An assurance that—
      - (i) the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) is engaged in meeting [State](/usc/20/7801.md?p=48) or tribally designated long-term goals for students, as may be required by applicable Federal, [State](/usc/20/7801.md?p=48), or tribal law;
      - (ii) the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) provides assessments of students using the [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language of instruction, where possible;
      - (iii) the qualifications of all instructional and leadership personnel at such [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) is sufficient to deliver high-quality education through the [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language used in the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11); and
      - (iv) the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) will collect and report to the public data relative to student achievement and, if appropriate, rates of [high school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=28) graduation, career readiness, and enrollment in postsecondary education or workforce development programs, of students who are enrolled in the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11)’s programs.
  - (2) **Limitation—** The [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall not give a priority in awarding grants under this section based on the information described in [paragraph (1)(E)](#c-1-E).
  - (3) **Submission of certification—**
    - (A) **In general—** An eligible entity that is a public [elementary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=19) or [secondary school](/usc/20/7801.md?p=45) (including a public [charter school](/usc/20/2302.md?p=9) or a [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) operated by the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) Education) or a nontribal for-profit or nonprofit organization shall submit, along with the application requirements described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1), a certification described in [subparagraph (B)](#c-3-B) indicating that—
      - (i) the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) or organization has the capacity to provide education primarily through a [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or an [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language; and
      - (ii) there are sufficient speakers of the target language at the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) or available to be hired by the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) or organization.
    - (B) **Certification—** The certification described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A) shall be from one of the following entities, on whose land the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) or program is located, that is an entity served by such [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11), or that is an entity whose members (as defined by that entity) are served by the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11):
      - (i) A Tribal College or University (as defined in [section 1059c of this title](/usc/20/1059c.md)).
      - (ii) A Federally recognized [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) tribe or tribal organization.
      - (iii) An [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) Regional Corporation or an [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) nonprofit organization.
      - (iv) A [Native Hawaiian organization](/usc/20/2326.md?p=a-4).
- (d) **Awarding of grants—** In awarding grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) shall—
  - (1) determine the amount of each grant and the duration of each grant, which shall not exceed 3 years; and
  - (2) ensure, to the maximum extent feasible, that diversity in languages is represented.
- (e) **Activities authorized—**
  - (1) **Required activities—** An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use such [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3) to carry out the following activities:
    - (A) Supporting [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language education and development.
    - (B) Providing [professional development](/usc/20/7801.md?p=42) for teachers and, as appropriate, staff and administrators to strengthen the overall language and academic goals of the [school](/usc/20/5802.md?p=a-11) that will be served by the grant program.
  - (2) **Allowable activities—** An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section may use such [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3) to carry out the following activities:
    - (A) Developing or refining curriculum, including teaching materials and activities, as appropriate.
    - (B) Creating or refining assessments written in the [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language of instruction that measure student proficiency and that are aligned with [State](/usc/20/7801.md?p=48) or tribal academic standards.
    - (C) Carrying out other activities that promote the maintenance and revitalization of the [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language relevant to the grant program.
- (f) **Report to Secretary—** Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall prepare and submit an annual report to the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46), which shall include—
  - (1) the activities the entity carried out to meet the purposes of this section; and
  - (2) the number of children served by the program and the number of instructional hours in the [Native American](/usc/20/7801.md?p=34) or [Alaska Native](/usc/20/1059d.md?p=b-1) language.
- (g) **Administrative costs—** Not more than 5 percent of the [funds](/usc/20/4702.md?p=3) provided to a grantee under this section for any fiscal year may be used for administrative purposes.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6133, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, § 6002(o), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2057.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Native American Languages Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is title I of Pub. L. 101–477, Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1153, which is classified generally to chapter 31 (§ 2901 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2901 of Title 25 and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 7453, Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6133, formerly title VII, § 7133, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1924; renumbered title VI, § 6133, Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, § 6001(a), (b)(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, related to fellowships for Indian students, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title VI, § 6002(n)(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 2057, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs.

Another prior section 7453, Pub. L. 89–10, title VII, § 7133, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3730, related to academic excellence awards, prior to the general amendment of former subchapter VII of this chapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

A prior section 6133 of Pub. L. 89–10 was classified to section 7311b of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.