The FY2009 Budget for the Indian Education Initiative proposes to sustain
increases of $24 million provided in 2008 and add another $1.4 million for
2009 for a total of $25.5 million. The initiative will help improve the academic
performance of Bureau of Indian Education students by holding their schools
accountable for meeting adequate yearly progress goals under the No Child
Left Behind Act. In 2008, thirty one percent of BIE-funded schools are expected
to achieve these goals. The request includes increases for formula funding
which directly supports core education costs in BIE schools including teachers
and supplies. more
 On February 5, 2007, President Bush and Interior Secretary Kempthorne launched two initiatives aimed at improving quality of life for Indian tribes.
To raise the level of student performance in Bureau of Indian Education schools,
the President's budget called for an additional $15 million investment to improve
Indian student academic achievement, a key goal of the No Child Left Behind
Act. The BIE system has 184 schools that educate about 50,000 students.
 "As one of only two federal school systems, our Bureau of Indian Education schools should be models of achieving the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act," Kempthorne said. " Yet, just 30 percent of our schools are meeting these goals. We must change course so Indian children receive the education they deserve."
The Initiative provides enhancements and tools to help these schools raise the level of student performance and increase the number of schools achieving Adequate Yearly Progress under the No Child Left Behind Act. The initiative provides targeted, intensive educational assistance to schools that have yet to achieve their Adequate Yearly Progress goals and provides additional funding for student transportation, education program management and information technology.
 Included in the original request was $5.3 million to fund a new program element, Education Program Enhancements, to use resources for specific initiatives, projects, and new activities associated with targeted improvements to educational instruction and learning. An increase of $4.25 million for student transportation to offset rising fuel costs and ensure that BIE school transportation continued to meet national and state standards.
An increase of $3.6 million for Education Program Management established positions
for specialists dedicated to the administration and management of data, contracts
and school finances. And an increase of $1.85 million funded the Native American
Student Information System, an information management tool that supports the
BIE's efforts in improving student and school performance.
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