About 27 percent of Utah’s American Indian students are chronically absent from school — higher than any other racial group in Utah and higher than the national average of 21 percent for American Indians. Tracking chronic absenteeism — missing 15 or more school days in a year — is perhaps more crucial than looking at graduation rates. But under the law, local Title VI programs receive federal funding only for the students who’ve filled out what’s called a 506 form, which requires native students or their parents or grandparents to be tribally enrolled. Thousands of youths aren’t eligible to fill it out — even those who were raised with native traditions, identify as native and experience the same struggles as those with full tribal recognition because their not native enough.
A Heart Full of Love . . . or Disdain?
What do you think when you see a person on the street or elsewhere who is wearing worn, outdated clothing and appears to be uneducated and poor? What we think about that person is a reflection of who we are, and, more importantly, it can affect the person we're...
