The formula for distributing Johnson-Q' Malley Act funding to schools serving Indian students will be determined by a run-off election to be conducted this fall, Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary Rick Lavis announced today.
The 1978 Education Amendments Act (P.L. 95-561) requires that the distribution formula be chosen by a majority vote of the tribes and Alaska village groups.
The Johnson-O'Malley funds are used to provide supplemental programs for Indian students in Public schools and other non-Federal education programs. In fiscal year 1979 the appropriation for this purpose, serving approximately 171,000 students, was $31,675,000.
Following the publication of proposed formulas this spring, hearings were held at seven locations between March 28 and April 13.
The task force, appointed by Lavis to work on this project, received more than 300 comments on the proposed formulas, including recommendations for 28 additional formulas. After reviewing the hearings testimony, the comments and recommendations, the task force submitted eight formulas May 25 for voting by the tribal groups. None of the eight formulas, however, received the required 51 percent (the votes cast.
The two formulas receiving the greatest number of votes will be submitted to a tribal vote in the run-off election this fall. One of the two formulas has been used for the past four years. It provides straight per capita payments for all students, with increases allowed for states which spend above the national average for education.
The other formula is a straight per capita plan which makes no allowance for cost of education in the state.
