The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) will conduct consultations to obtain oral and written comments on the draft BIE Agency Plan, for implementation the Secretary of the Interior's (Secretary) responsibility to establish requirements for standards, assessments, and an accountability system for BIE-funded schools.

On June 10, 2019, BIE published a proposed rule to govern how the Secretary will establish requirements for standards, assessments, and accountability system for BIE-funded schools consistent with Section 1111 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), on a national, regional, or Tribal basis, as appropriate, taking into account the unique circumstances and needs of such schools and the students served by such schools. See 84 FR 26785. The final rule published in the Federal Register on March 26, 2020. The Agency Plan is a Consolidated State Plan aligned to the U.S. Department of Education Consolidated State Plan Template.

BIE's Agency Plan is intended to provide details on how the BIE should implement the requirements for standards, assessments, and accountability system for BIE-funded schools. As such, during consultation BIE seeks input from Indian Tribes, school boards, parents, Indian organizations, and other interested parties regarding best practices for school improvement and support to lowest performing schools as well as the overall vision for improving outcomes for BIE-funded school students as defined in 25 CFR part 30. BIE also seeks input regarding those parts of the draft BIE Agency Plan that have not been established as requirements through the final rule.

Further, BIE would appreciate input regarding long-term goals and annual meaningful differentiation and identification of schools (comprehensive support and improvement activities and targeted support and improvement activities), and any other suggestions that would improve BIE's delivery of high-quality educational services and supports to students at BIE funded schools.

BIE will conduct five consultation sessions through telephonic webinar. Three sessions are designated for Tribal representatives or the designee, and two sessions are designated for school boards, parents, teachers, and other public stakeholders. BIE will accept both oral and written comments. The following table lists dates and consultation teleconference webinar registration information. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.