Summary
Information as of June 24, 2025. Prepared by Cassandria Dortch, Specialist in Education Policy, and Jamie Bush, Visual Information
Specialist. For more information on the programs, see CRS Report RL34205, Indian Elementary-Secondary Education: Programs,
Background, and Issues.
Sources: Congressional Budget Justifications and other agency documents; U.S. Department of Education, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
and Elementary/Secondary Information System application.
Notes: SAMHSA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. OESE is the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. OFG is
the Office of Formula Grants. OSERS is the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. OIE is the Office of Indian Education. TCFI&R is the Tribal
Colleges Facilities Improvement & Repair program. IA is Indian A-airs. DOI is the U.S. Department of the Interior. Some FY2024 funding amounts are
preliminary. Amounts paid by the DOI under 105(l) leases are a major source of funding, but the amounts are not publicly reported. The graphic excludes
funding for BIE programs that do not directly support the BIE school system (i.e., early childhood education, support for public school students, tribally
controlled colleges and universities, and postsecondary student aid).
Major FY2024 Federal Funding
Bureau of Indian Education
School System
for the
The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funds, administers, and operates a school
system for members of federally recognized Indian Tribes and their children. The BIE school system is one
response to the federal government's trust responsibility for the education and well-being of Tribes.
BIE elementary and secondary school enrollment was almost 37,000 in academic year 2023-2024. BIE postsecondary
school enrollment in fall 2023 was over 1,100—all undergraduate students. Of students who identified as American
Indian/Alaska Native in public elementary and secondary schools and in institutions of higher education, 8% enrolled in
BIE elementary and secondary schools (including tribally controlled schools) and 1% enrolled in BIE postsecondary
schools, respectively. Several federal agencies and programs support the BIE school system. The programs listed below
provided the largest amounts of funding in FY2024, but all of the schools received funding from additional programs.
For each program, the administering subagency and types of eligible BIE schools are noted.
The BIE system comprises 183
elementary and secondary schools,
two postsecondary schools, and
associated administrative offices.
Federal policy promotes tribal
self-determination by enabling tribal
entities to manage federal programs. About
two-thirds of the elementary and secondary
schools are tribally controlled, while the
remainder are operated by BIE. Both
postsecondary schools are BIE-operated.
$7
$11
$9
$9
$7
$7
$488
$219
$154
$96
$95
$70
$67
$30
$21
Programs of Regional and National Significance (SAMHSA)
Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (OESE OFG)
Indian Education Special Programs and National Activities (OESE OIE)
21st Century Community Learning Centers (OESE OFG)
Indian Education Grants to Local Educational Agencies (OESE OIE)
Student Support and Academic Enrichment State Grants (OESE OFG)
Indian Student Equalization Program (BIE)
Education Construction, Excluding TCFI&R (BIE and IA)
Facilities Operations & Facilities Maintenance (BIE and IA)
Tribal Grant Support Costs (BIE)
Legacy Restoration Fund (DOI and IA)
Student Transportation (BIE)
Education Management (BIE)
Haskell & Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (BIE)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
$ millions
$129
$107
Grants to Local Educational Agencies (OESE OFG)
Special Education Grants to States (OSERS)
Education Program Enhancements (BIE)
BIE-operated elementary &
secondary schools
Tribally controlled
elementary & secondary
schools
BIE-operated
postsecondary schools
Eligible program recipients
183
Elementary & secondary schools
BIE-operated Tribally controlled BIE-operated
2
Postsecondary schools