FEDERAL AGENCY:

BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.; Indian Education Amendments of 1978, Public Law 95-561, 25 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.; Tribally Controlled Schools Act, 25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide funds to each school for the round trip transportation of students between home and the school site.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are to be used only for the transportation of students who are eligible under the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) as provided for under 25 CFR 39 and are enrolled in a Bureau funded school or dormitory.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Federally Recognized Indian Tribes or tribal organizations currently served by a Bureau of Indian Affairs funded school.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Children between the ages of 5 and 21 who are members of or are at least a one-fourth degree Indian blood descendant of a member of an Indian tribe which is eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Credentials/Documentation:   Written evidence of approval of the application by the tribal governing body of the students served by or to be served by the school. "Tribal governing body" means the tribal governing body or tribal governing bodies that represent at least 90 percent of the students served by such school.

Pre-application Coordination:   An applicant should consult the Agency/Area Education Program Administrator who will provide technical assistance. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   To become a contract school, applications should be developed in accordance with 25 CFR Part 900. To become a grant school, applications should be developed in accordance with 25 USC 2501 et seq.

Award Procedure:   The Agency/Area Education Program Administrator will ensure the application is complete and forward the application to the Director, Office of Indian Education Programs, with a recommendation for approval/disapproval.

Deadlines:   Schools must submit their applications and a copy of the tribe's approval of the application by March 1. Evidence that all administrative systems are in place such as accounting, personnel and property must be submitted by July 1.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Applications for contract schools will be processed within 90 days; applications for grant schools will be processed within 180 days after the date the application is submitted to the Agency/Area Education Program Administrator.

Appeals:   An unsuccessful applicant may request an informal conference with the deciding official, or may appeal the denial of the application to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, or may bring suit in U.S. District Court. Full appeal procedures are found in 25 CFR, Part 900.

Renewals:   Awards are made annually and are renewed automatically based on satisfactory performance by the grantee.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Funds are allocated in accordance with 25 CFR 39.12. The Director, Office of Indian Education Programs, will review transportation allotment factors each year and make changes in factors based on changes in transportation costs.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards are made on an annual basis and the funds remain available until expended by the contractor/grantee. Payments are made in advance or by way of reimbursement.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Annual Financial Report, Narrative Report, and a program evaluation by an impartial third party such as an accrediting agency.

Audits:   For awards made under this program, grantees are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.).

Records:   Financial records must be retained for 3 years from the date of submission of the single audit report. Procurement records must be retained for 3 years from the date of final payment. Property records must be retained for 3 years from the date of disposition, replacement, or transfer. Records pertaining to any litigation, audit exceptions or claims must be retained until the dispute has been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-2100-0-1-501.

Obligations:   (Total amount of awards) FY 01 $23,178,880; FY 02 est $23,389,440; and FY 03 est $24,643,840.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Range is $2,870 to $1,630,820; Average $328,061.

Annually, more than 20,000 students are provided daily bus transportation to and from tribally-operated schools.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

25 CFR 39; 25 CFR 45; 25 CFR 900.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Education Line Officers' addresses in Catalog Appendix IV.

Headquarters Office:   Joe Herrin 1849 C Street, N.W. Bureau of Indian Education, MS 4657 MIB, Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Email: joe.herrin@bie.edu Phone: (202)208-7658

Web Site Address:  
http://www.bia.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Funds are provided to each school to provide daily transportation of students to and from school, and for boarding students, transportation at the beginning and end of the year as well as one mid-year round trip home. Additional funding is provided where miles driven is on unimproved roads.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Applicants meeting eligibility criteria are funded.