Council of the Cherokee Nation - File #: 21-092

• File #: 21-092
• Version: 1
• Name: VERNA D. THOMPSON ACT
• Type: Legislative Act
• Status: Passed
• File created: 9/14/2021
• In control: TRIBAL COUNCIL
• On agenda: 9/30/2021
• Final action: 10/19/2021
• Enactment date: 10/12/2021
• Enactment #: LA-46-21
• Title: VERNA D. THOMPSON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ACT OF 2021
• Sponsors: Mike Shambaugh, Joshua Sam, Shawn Crittenden, Rex Jordan, Victoria Vazquez, Dora Patzkowski, Julia Coates, Daryl Legg, E. O. "JR." Smith, Candessa Tehee, Keith Austin
• Indexes: Early Childhood Development, Early Head Start, Head Start
• Code sections: ?? - Unknown, Title 70 - Schools and Education
• Related files: 24-011

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/19/2021	1	OFFICE OF THE CHIEF	Signed
10/12/2021	2	TRIBAL COUNCIL	Approved	Pass
9/30/2021	1	RULES COMMITTEE	Approved and Forwarded to Council	Pass

Title
VERNA D. THOMPSON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ACT OF 2021
Body
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION:

Section 1. Title and Codification

This legislative act shall be titled and codified as the "Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act of 2021" or alternatively the "Verna D. Thompson Act."


Section 2. Findings
The Council of the Cherokee Nation finds that the provision of early childhood education to Cherokee citizens, across the Cherokee Nation reservation, is a critically important national interest. The Council finds that Cherokee Nation's partnership with the federal Head Start program has improved the education, health and general welfare of thousands of Cherokee families across the reservation. Since the Cherokee Nation Head Start program commenced in 1978, the program has received the highest of ratings by United States Department of Health and Human Services evaluators. The Council finds that, notwithstanding the overall positive impact of the program, Cherokee Nation Head Start facilities are widely in need of repair or replacement and that a failure to remedy these deficiencies reduces the efficacy of the program. The Council finds it preferable that all existing Head Start facilities be replaced and that all sites be located in Cherokee Nation owned buildings on Cherokee Nation owned properties. Each site should utilize modern classroom design principles, and outdoor cultural engagement activities. The Council further finds that all Cherokee Nation early childhood education programs, including Head Start and Child Development Centers, warrant expansion over time based on strategic goals to provide or support early childhood education for as many Cherokee children as possible across the reservation. The Council finds that periodic study of the availability of child care and early childhood education services across the reservation will better inform Council and administration's efforts to expand such services across the Cheroke...