Cite as: 31 CNCA § 611

A. Third Party Credentialing: No later than fiscal year 2027, the Principal Chief shall engage one or more third party entities to evaluate the curriculum, performance and facilities of all Language Immersion Education programs within the meaning of this Act, such entities demonstrating recognized qualifications to issue accreditation or comparable validation of the sufficiency of said programs, provided:

1. The Principal Chief provides the Council with an annual report summarizing the Third Party Evaluator's activities pursuant to this sub-section.

B. Interim Cherokee Nation Immersion Education Advisory Board: Upon enactment of §7 of this Act the Board of Education in effect as of June L 2026 for Ꮷꮎꮥꮆꮖꮝꮧ tsunadeloquasd Language Immersion School shall continue in effect as the Interim Cherokee Nation Immersion Education Advisory Board, until such time no later than December 31, 2026, the Interim Cherokee Nation Immersion Education Advisory Board (Interim Board) shall be seated pursuant to sub-section C of this Section, with such Interim Board authorized generally to provide advisory oversight, notwithstanding the non-existence of a public school education charter with the State of Oklahoma, and consisting of all incumbent board members who shall remain seated on such Interim Board, provided:

1. Repeal of Charter School Authorization: Resolutions 52-11, 54-25, 59-16 and 21-22 are hereby repealed to the extent the resolutions authorize a public school charter for Immersion Education with the State of Oklahoma.

C. Cherokee Nation Immersion Education Advisory Board: No later than December 31, 2026, a new public body of the Cherokee Nation shall begin operation, replacing the Interim Board authorized in sub-section B of this Section, authorized generally to provide advisory oversight of all Immersion Education programs, provided said Advisory Board shall:

1. Be appointed by the Principal Chief and confirmed by the Council

2. Be citizens of the Cherokee Nation, over the age of 18

3. Consists of no more than five members, for terms of four years, except as provided below for the purpose of staggering said seats:

a. Seat 1: Term ending September 30, 2027

b. Seat 2: Term ending September 30, 2028

c. Seat 3: Term ending September 30, 2029

d. Seat 4: Term ending September 30, 2030

e. Seat 5: Term ending September 30, 2031

4. Include a minimum of:

a. Two members who are fluent Cherokee speakers.

b. Two members who have a minimum of five years' experience as professionally licensed common education classroom teacher or professionally licensed common education school administrator, or any combination thereof.

5. Elect, for annual terms ending at the end of the fiscal year in which said election shall occur, a chair to preside over meetings and a co-chair to assist or substitute for the chair in the chair's absence.

6. Recognize the Principal Chief, Deputy Principal Chief and Speaker of the Council of the Cherokee Nation as board members ex-officio.

7. Shall comply with the Cherokee Nation Freedom of Information Act with respect to the conduct of meetings, except that the Advisory Board may enter

into executive session for any purpose.

8. Adopt and publish a tentative annual schedule of monthly meetings each fiscal year, subject to the approval of the Executive Director of Language Programs

9. Review and comment upon curriculum and policies of Immersion Education programs upon adoption or amendment

10. Produce annual written reviews of the performance of Immersion Education programs, at minimum evaluating and making recommendations with respect to:

a. Cherokee language learning,

b. Academics,

c. Post-high school career or college readiness,

d. Extracurricular activities,

e. Student health, nutrition and safety,

f. Budget,

g. Staffing, excluding evaluations and recommendations relating to individual employees.

11. Be provided with sufficient support staff resources as the Principal Chief determines is necessary for said Advisory Board to effectuate its duties under this Act

12. Issue said annual written reviews to the Principal Chief and the Speaker of the Council, after which the Principal Chief shall cause said reports to be made available for public inspection

13. Not possess any authority other than that expressly provided for in this Act, such limitation including that it possesses no authority with respect to the terms and conditions of employment of any employees nor any authority with respect to prescribing, approving or rejecting curriculum or policies

14. Adopt policies and procedures for the conduct of meetings

15. Be a successor for all purposes of the Ꮷꮎꮥꮆꮖꮝꮧ tsunadeloquasdi Language Immersion School Board of Education in effect as of June 1, 2026, and shall

maintain all records of such board & Receive compensation of $1,000 per month, provided any board member may waive all or any portion of, compensation upon written request to the Principal Chief.

16. Receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses and approved training, consistent with prevailing executive branch policies and practices.

Historical Data

LA 23-26, eff. June 25, 2026.