The U.S. Department of Education is inviting Indian tribes, state and local agencies serving Indian children and young adults and schools to apply for approximately $16 million in grants to improve education opportunities for Indian students. A notice inviting applications for these grant programs is posted in the Federal Register.

"The U.S. Department of Education is renewing its commitment to educational opportunity and achievement for Indian students," Secretary Paige said. "The overall goal of President Bush's No Child Left Behind education reform is that every child, including Indian children, will have high-quality education and become proficient in reading and math."

The Office of Indian Education will award over $4 million in competitive grants for pre-school and kindergarten readiness and college preparation under the Demonstration Grants for Indian Children program--on the Web at www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/ 2004-1/030204a.html--and nearly $7 million for the Professional Development program--on the Web at www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/ 2004-1/030204b.html.

The Department will also award $5 million for vocational rehabilitation services to American Indians with disabilities who reside on or near federal or state reservations to prepare them for gainful employment. This program is on the Web at www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/ 2004-1/030304f.html.

Activities funded by the grants administered by the Office of Indian Education may include services to students from preschool to high school in areas such as the following:

• family-based preschool;
• partnerships between schools and universities to assist and encourage students in transitioning from high school to college;
• enrichment programs to increase Indian children's achievement in one or more core academic subjects;
• programs to increase the rate of secondary school graduation;
• programs that preserve and teach the native language and culture; and
• programs to increase the number of new, highly qualified Indian individuals in professions that serve Indian people.

Individuals who receive training under the Professional Development Program are required to perform work that is related to the training received and that benefits Indian people, or else they are required to repay all or a prorated part of the assistance received.

Additional information about ED funding opportunities, including discretionary grant application packages, is available at http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml.

More information about Indian education grants is available from the Office of Indian Education at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/om/fs_po/ous/indian.html.

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