SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted Wednesday the first American Indian Education Oversight Committee (AIEOC) meeting since 2017. The AIEOC will provide input and advice to Thurmond on all aspects of American Indian education programs established by the state, with AIEOC members having extensive knowledge of current educational policies relating to, and issues faced by, tribes and American Indian communities in California. “I’m excited to bring together educators as we rethink how we not only teach about Native Americans in schools, but also how Native American children are experiencing school,” said Thurmond. “Our statewide data tells us that only 75 percent of Native American children graduate high school. Almost one-third of our Native American students are chronically absent from school, and our native children are scoring below standard in English language arts and math. We can close these gaps, and it begins with partnership and collaboration, something that I recognize needs more nurturing and attention, especially when it comes to our relationships with Native American families and partners. We are committed to finding ways at the state level and locally to include tribes in decision-making.”