|
 The Johnson - O'Malley Act was introduced in the senate as U.S. Senate Bill 2571 by Senator Hiram W. Johnson of California on February 2, 1934. A similar bill, House Joint Resolution 257, was under consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives but the author, Thomas P. O'Malley, asked for and received consent that the Senate provide federal assistance to supplement local school funds in an effort to educate Indian children in public schools.
Today, funds allocated under the Snyder Act are used to meet the specialized and unique educational needs of eligible Indian students, which are programs supplemental to the regular school program. School districts receiving funds under JOM must insure that Indian children receive all aid from the federal, state, local and other proper sources other than JOM that they are entitled to receive. In no instance shall there be discrimination against Indians or schools enrolling such Indians. Funds cannot be used to supplant the regular program the school is required to provide. JOM is a supplemental program which is used to provide special services to Indian students based on the needs of individual communities.
Some years ago JOM was funded to provide operational support. Schools were able to use those funds for general school operations and many built buildings, bought buses and school equipment. JOM is no longer funded for operational support. The program is now funded for supplemental programs only.
CHEROKEE NATION JOHNSON - O'MALLEY PROGRAM
When Public Law 93-638 was passed in 1975, it allowed tribal governments the right to contract programs the Bureau of Indian Affairs operates. The authority for contracting JOM programs comes from part II of P.L. 93-638, known as the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Under this act, Indian tribes are eligible to contract the administration of JOM funds for eligible Indian students residing within their jurisdiction.
On October 1, 1982, the Cherokee Nation became the first tribe in eastern Oklahoma, under the jurisdiction of the Muskogee Area Office (BIA), to contract the Johnson - O'Malley Program. Cherokee Nation now serves as the prime contractor of the JOM program in the fourteen county area and is responsible for administering JOM funds for the operation of supplemental programs for the education of eligible Indian students.
The Cherokee Nation JOM Program now serves approximately seventy-six (76) schools and five (5) community-based programs with an enrollment of 19,300 eligible Indian students.
The JOM Program also offer special project funds to schools as funding allows. The schools apply to the JOM office for the monies by means of a detailed application. Since these funds are limited, they are competitive. In 1999, there were eleven (11) summer school projects with enrollment of approximately seven-hundred (700) students.
Eligibility
Students
Eligible Indian students include children from age three (3) years through grade twelve (12) who are certified as 1/4 or more degree Indian blood or a tribal member, and are recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as being eligible for Bureau of Indian Affairs services.
Schools
Public school districts within the fourteen (14) county area with at least ten (10) eligible students are eligible for a JOM Program.
Committee
Parents who are elected to the JOM parent committee must be parents or guardians of eligible Indian children.
Program Overview
Each program is required to have a parent committee made up of parents of eligible Indian students. Each participating school has a parent committee consisting of five (5) parents.
With the cooperation of the school administrators and parent committees, the students receive the benefit of services of certified counselors, classroom aides, tutors, specialty teachers (art, music, etc.) and home-school coordinators.
|