The legislative authority for Navajo education is examined in this two-part report, designed to help the Navajo people attain meaningful control of the education of their youth, with the continued appropriate involvement of the federal and state governments. Part 1 summarizes the key provisions of the relevant sources of legal authority which govern Navajo education. The legal status of the Navajo Tribe is described with regard to tribal sovereignty, tribal government and relationship with the federal government, and a detailed compendium of federal (16 sources), Navajo (8 sources), and state law regarding education is presented. Part 2 assesses the educational powers and duties of the United States, the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah; and the Navajo Tribe. The roles of each are examined in the context of the three types of schools on the reservation, i.e., state public schools, Bureau of Indian Affairs schools and "contract" schools. Existing obstacles to and opportunities for expanded tribal authority (pertaining to education standards, enrollment, and bilingualism) are discussed. An institutional arrangement for consideration as the formal mechanism for operating a unified Navajo-controlled educational system is suggested. Footnotes are included, and statutes, regulations, and resolutions are appended. (JMM)