Concerted Effort Needed to Improve Indian Education

Schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) were audited. The emphasis was on determining whether BIA had implemented recommendations in a 1972 report to Congress, including: appraisal of all operating levels of the goal of reaching a level of academic achievement for Indian students equal to the national average; identification of priorities toward that goal; and development of a comprehensive educational program.

During the current review, it was noted that the problems identified in 1972 still exist and that the BIA has not taken appropriate action to implement the prior report. The Bureau has made little progress toward improving educational achievement of Indian children. Specific programs have not been designed to deal with factors which have been identified as impeding educational progress. Some changes have been accomplished in the management information system, but it still does not provide education program managers with needed information. BIA officials comment that the recommendations have not been implemented because the Bureau's Office of Indian Education Programs has not provided adequate direction.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: No director on record Team: No team on record Phone: No phone on record