Adopted: November 2025
Revised:
Download 801.18AR - Native American Parent Advisory Committee
1. Purpose – The Native American Parent Advisory Committee (NAPAC) shall serve in an advisory capacity to the for planning and implementing programs and events that support District 196 American Indian students and their families. NAPAC is established pursuant to both Minnesota Statute 124D.78 and federal requirements under Title VI to ensure parent and community participation in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs that serve American Indian students.
2. Role – NAPAC is responsible for carrying out the following activities:
2.1 Consult with the district on the planning, development, operation and evaluation of programs and services that support American Indian students.
2.2 Promote culturally responsive educational practices, foster respect for Native heritage, and encourage strong communication between the school district and American Indian families.
2.3 Provide recommendations to the School Board and administration on programming, curriculum, services and cultural activities that impact American Indian students. Recommendations will be developed in consultation with the Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Committee (CIAC).
2.4 Provide parents of American Indian children the necessary information and the opportunity to express their views concerning all aspects of American Indian education and the educational needs of the American Indian children enrolled in the school district.
2.5 Work with the district to meet state and federal requirements for American Indian education, including participating in the development of the Title VI Indian Education grant application and providing written approval before it is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education.
2.6 Submit a written summary of its activities, recommendations, and findings to the School Board each year.
2.7 Annually meet to discuss whether NAPAC concurs with the educational offerings that have been extended by the district to American Indian students.
2.7.1 If the committee finds that the district and the School Board have been meeting the needs of American Indian students, NAPAC issues a vote and resolution of concurrence.
2.7.2 If NAPAC finds that the needs of American Indian students are not being met, they issue a vote and resolution of nonconcurrence.
2.7.3 The vote and resolution must be presented to the School Board by one or more members of NAPAC.
2.7.4 The vote will be formally reflected on documentation provided by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and must be submitted annually on March 1 pursuant to Minnesota Statute 124D.78, subd. 2.
2.8 Review the qualifications of potential American Indian education program staff and make recommendations to the district regarding program applicants. A NAPAC executive board member or a designee shall advise the district on the development of policies and procedures relating to the hiring of program staff, including the development of a job description and interviewing candidates.
2.9 Consider grievances related to the administration of the Title VI program.
2.10 Establish and abide by its own reasonable bylaws to govern its procedures and conduct.
3. Membership
3.1 The majority of NAPAC members shall be parents or guardians of eligible American Indian students enrolled in the district with a 506 form on file. Membership may also include eligible American Indian secondary students enrolled in the district, representatives of Native American tribes on Native lands located within 50 miles of any District 196 school if such tribes have any children in the school, and at least one district teacher or counselor that is not paid with program funds. NAPAC may also include a MDE at-large member with a child enrolled in District 196 who is state coded North American Indian or Alaskan Native in the District 196 student information system. If the MDE at-large member does not otherwise meet eligibility criteria for membership on NAPAC, then the MDE at-large member may only vote on NAPAC matters controlled or required by state law.
3.2 NAPAC shall elect an executive board to administer to NAPAC. The NAPAC executive board will be composed of at least five NAPAC members, but no more than ten NAPAC members. Executive board members shall serve one or two-year staggered terms. Vacancies will be filled through appointment by NAPAC until the next election is conducted.
3.3 NAPAC shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary annually from among the members on the executive board. Each officer shall serve for a staggered 2-year term; however, district staff members and students who are elected as officers serve for a one-year term.
3.4 The American Indian education program coordinator and the director of equity and inclusion serve as ex-officio members of NAPAC.
4. Meetings
4.1 NAPAC shall meet at least monthly as determined by NAPAC, with additional meetings scheduled as necessary.
4.2 NAPAC meetings are publicized on the District 196 website and communicated to all American Indian parents/guardians in the district.
4.3 NAPAC meetings are open to the public. NAPAC may permit members of the public to address NAPAC.
4.4 The American Indian education program coordinator and the secretary of NAPAC will ensure that minutes are taken at each meeting and maintain a copy in NAPAC and district records.
References:
- Minnesota Statute 124D.78, Parent and Community Participation
- Section 6114 of Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965
- 20 U.S.C. § 7424, Applications