U.S. Department of Education and the Bureau of Indian Education Virtual Tribal Consultation

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) (collectively, the Departments) joint commitment to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all American Indian and Alaska Native youth, the Departments, in coordination with the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, cordially invite you to this 2018 Virtual Tribal Consultation:

The Departments seek to engage tribes, tribal organizations and communities, Native youth, and other stakeholders on topics related to the Departments’ roles in promoting student achievement and ensuring quality education opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native youth—from early childhood through adulthood with regard for tribes’ needs for cultural and economic well-being. Specifically, the Departments request insight on how specific resources can be leveraged more effectively by each Department to support the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and tribal communities nationwide.

Please note the supporting information below. The Departments are requesting feedback on the specific questions therein.

If you have additional questions, please email Angeline Boulley, Project Manager for Tribal Tech, LLC at aboulley@tribaltechllc.com or call 906-203-8847.

 For more information, if you have additional questions, or if you’d like to submit written comments, please email oss.bie@ed.gov.

Background Information

The BIE operates as the State Educational Agency (SEA) for the purposes of administering Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Acts (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B in BIE schools. Title I provides financial assistance to BIE and its schools which have a high number or a high percentage of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging academic standards. IDEA provides assistance to BIE to identify and provide for the education of children with disabilities within BIE-funded schools. The BIE is responsible for distributing the federal funds in accordance with the program requirements and ensuring that BIE-funded schools are meeting the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations of the federal programs and have the support they need to improve educational for Native students. The ED is responsible for providing support to the BIE in its efforts to monitor and enforce compliance with the requirements of these and other funded ED programs.

The Departments entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in December 2012 and its extension in July 2017 which describes the relationship that the two agencies have in supporting BIE students with regard to all ESEA funding provided by the Department to the BIE. Specific activities agreed to in the MOA include collaborating on ways to:

• Promote more effective school reform efforts to address critical issues and unique challenges affecting the quality of instruction, student achievement, and educational improvement in BIE- funded schools, including students with disabilities.
• Enhance research, data collection, and dissemination of best practices with regard to the education of American Indian and Alaska Native students.

Summary

ED and the BIE are conducting a tribal consultation to obtain oral and written comments regarding opportunities to improve educational outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native youth including youth with disabilities. Through this tribal consultation, the Departments hope to hear from federally-recognized tribes, school leaders, parents, and the public on the best ways the Departments can use their resources and expertise to:

• Promote more effective school reform efforts in BIE-funded schools with a particular emphasis on students with disabilities and students served under Title I; and
• Enhance the BIE’s quality research, data collection, and dissemination of best practices with regard to the education of American Indian and Alaska Native students.

The Departments seek tribal input regarding any actions impacting tribes, tribal communities, and Native youth served by BIE-funded schools that the Departments may take based on the topics described above in order to improve educational opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native students. The information and feedback obtained will be used to:

1. Inform how the two federal agencies can collaborate better to serve American Indian and Alaska Native youth including youth with disabilities through its formal MOA as well as through other means; such as regular discussions between the BIE and the program offices administering Title I and IDEA.
2. Enhance the BIE’s monitoring and oversight of schools, its data collection and disseminating practices, and its school improvement efforts; and
3. Inform how the Departments could promote effective school reform efforts including, but not limited to, educational choice for students in tribal communities in a manner that promotes tribal sovereignty and honors the Federal Government’s trust responsibility to Indian tribes regarding education.

For Further Contact Information

By email to: OSS.BIE@ed.gov

Tribal Consultation Questions

The Departments seek input from Tribes and other stakeholders during the Tribal Consultation as follows:

1. How can the Departments use their resources and expertise to better support your schools in carrying out the requirements of federal education programs, specifically Title I and IDEA Part B?
2. What suggestions do you have for strengthening BIE’s monitoring and technical assistance with regard to IDEA Part B and ESEA programs, including Title I, Part A?
3. What suggestions do you have for enhancing special education services and programming at your schools including methods for ensuring children with disabilities are adequately prepared to meet post-secondary goals? What types of professional development would be helpful to educators and staff? How can BIE assist your schools with ensuring parents are informed of their rights and their children’s rights under IDEA?
4. What suggestions do you have for enhancing BIE’s research, data collection, and dissemination of best practices with regard to the education of American Indian and Alaska Native students?
5. What types of supplemental programs or education choice options could enhance educational services currently available in BIE-funded schools in a manner that promotes tribal sovereignty and honors the federal government’s trust responsibility to Indian Tribes regarding education?

Please send comments to tribalconsultation@ed.gov and note that public comment will be accepted through July 16, 2018.

Tribal Tech, LLC is a contract service provider specializing in the support of Indian education efforts and provides logistical and communications services for activities essential to the mission of the Office of Indian Education.