SB 97 - State Advisory Council on Indian Education

• Reorganizes the 15-member State Advisory Council on Indian Education membership structure, separating legislative appointments into one senator (appointed by President Pro Tempore) and one representative (appointed by Speaker of the House).

• Expands American Indian higher education representation by requiring both The University of North Carolina Board of Governors and the State Board of Community Colleges to each appoint one member, preferably faculty members.

• Increases American Indian K-12 public school educator positions from two to five members appointed by the State Board of Education, including at least one Title VII director or coordinator, with members required to hold current North Carolina professional educator licenses.

• Reduces American Indian parent representatives from eight to five members enrolled in K-12 public schools, including charter schools.

• Expands the list of state-recognized Indian tribes and organizations represented on the Council, adding Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony, and Triangle Native American Society, and explicitly includes members from federally recognized tribes.