Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk, the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, addressed a summit on Indian school safety this week in Washington, D.C.

The Bureau of Indian Education is working with law enforcement, security, and health and safety agencies to improve safety conditions at Indian schools. Attendees discussed school replacement and construction projects, school safety and equipment, emergency preparedness plans, student safety and parent and student support programs.

“Children cannot get a good education if they feel they cannot be safe in their schools,” Echo Hawk said. “We must find ways to prevent student violence against themselves and others while ensuring they receive a quality education and a chance at prosperity."

The summit, held on Tuesday, drew representatives of the BIA, the Interior Department, the White House Office of Drug Control Policy, the Department of Education, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Communications Commission, the Indian Health Service and the Administration for Native Americans.

This meeting is a cornerstone event where the BIE is seeking to establish public and private sector partnerships in order to share knowledge and best practices for creating safe learning environments for BIE students,” said acting BIE Director Kevin Skenandore.