For example, the high school graduation rate for Indians aged 25 and over rose 10 percent during the 1980s, but is still well below the rate for the overall population. The Department's Indian Education programs support locally designed activities that address the particular education needs of Indians within the context of overall educational reforms. The request would support local programs serving up to 422,500 eligible children. Under the Grants to Local Educational Agencies program, LEAs are required to develop comprehensive plans for the education of Indian children. These plans must include academic and student performance goals based on challenging State or local standards.
LEAs periodically report to their communities on the progress they make in achieving the goals.
The Impact Aid program provides basic support to school districts affected by Federal activities. The 1998 budget request would place priority on children for whom the Federal government has primary responsibility, namely children living on Indian lands and children who live on Federal property and who have a parent on active duty in the uniformed services. Payments for Children with Disabilities provide additional support for certain federally connected children who are eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The request also would provide Payments to Heavily Impacted Districts to help these districts raise their per-pupil expenditures to levels comparable to other districts in their States. The Department of Education owns and must maintain over 100 school facilities that were originally built to enable local educational agencies and the Department of Defense toeducate federally connected children.