20 USC 7424 - Applications

Collapse to view only § 7424. Applications

§ 7421. Purpose
§ 7422. Grants to local educational agencies and tribes
§ 7423. Amount of grants
§ 7424. Applications
§ 7425. Authorized services and activities
§ 7426. Integration of services authorized
§ 7427. Student eligibility forms
§ 7428. Payments
§ 7429. State educational agency review

§ 7421. Purpose

It is the purpose of this subpart to support the efforts of local educational agencies, Indian tribes and organizations, and other entities in developing elementary school and secondary school programs for Indian students that are designed to—

(1) meet the unique cultural, language, and educational needs of such students; and

(2) ensure that all students meet the challenging State academic standards.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6111, formerly title VII, § 7111, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1908; renumbered title VI, § 6111, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), 6002(c), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2047.)

§ 7422. Grants to local educational agencies and tribes

(a) In generalThe Secretary may make grants, from allocations made under section 7423 of this title, and in accordance with this section and section 7423 of this title, to—

(1) local educational agencies;

(2) Indian tribes, as provided under subsection (c)(1);

(3) Indian organizations, as provided under subsection (c)(1);

(4) consortia of 2 or more local educational agencies, Indian tribes, Indian organizations, or Indian community-based organizations, if each local educational agency participating in such a consortium, if applicable—

(A) provides an assurance that the eligible Indian children served by such local educational agency will receive the services of the programs funded under this subpart; and

(B) is subject to all the requirements, assurances, and obligations applicable to local educational agencies under this subpart; and

(5) Indian community-based organizations, as provided under subsection (d)(1).

(b) Local educational agencies

(1) Enrollment requirementsSubject to paragraph (2), a local educational agency shall be eligible for a grant under this subpart for any fiscal year if the number of Indian children eligible under section 7427 of this title who were enrolled in the schools of the agency, and to whom the agency provided free public education, during the preceding fiscal year—

(A) was at least 10; or

(B) constituted not less than 25 percent of the total number of individuals enrolled in the schools of such agency.

(2) Cooperative agreementsA local educational agency may enter into a cooperative agreement with an Indian tribe under this subpart if such Indian tribe—

(A) represents not less than 25 percent of the eligible Indian children who are served by such local educational agency; and

(B) requests that the local educational agency enter into a cooperative agreement under this subpart.

(3) Exclusion

(1) In general

(2) Special rule

(A) In general

(B) Exceptions

(3) Assurance to serve all Indian children

(d) Indian community-based organization

(1) In general

(2) Applicability of special rule

(3) Definition of Indian community-based organizationIn this subsection, the term “Indian community-based organization” means any organization that—

(A) is composed primarily of Indian parents, family members, and community members, tribal government education officials, and tribal members, from a specific community;

(B) assists in the social, cultural, and educational development of Indians in such community;

(D) demonstrates organizational and administrative capacity to manage the grant.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6112, formerly title VII, § 7112, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1908; renumbered title VI, § 6112, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (2), 6002(d), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2048.)

§ 7423. Amount of grants

(a) Amount of grant awards

(1) In generalExcept as provided in subsection (b) and paragraph (2), the Secretary shall allocate to each local educational agency that has an approved application under this subpart an amount equal to the product of—

(A) the number of Indian children who are eligible under section 7427 of this title and served by such agency; and

(B) the greater of—

(i) the average per pupil expenditure of the State in which such agency is located; or

(ii) 80 percent of the average per pupil expenditure of all the States.

(2) Reduction

(b) Minimum grant

(1) In general

(2) Consortia

(3) Increase

(c) DefinitionFor the purpose of this section, the term “average per pupil expenditure”, used with respect to a State, means an amount equal to—

(1) the sum of the aggregate current expenditures of all the local educational agencies in the State, plus any direct current expenditures by the State for the operation of such agencies, without regard to the sources of funds from which such local or State expenditures were made, during the second fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the computation is made; divided by

(2) the aggregate number of children who were included in average daily attendance for whom such agencies provided free public education during such preceding fiscal year.

(d) Schools operated or supported by the Bureau of Indian Education

(1) In generalSubject to subsection (e), in addition to the grants awarded under subsection (a), the Secretary shall allocate to the Secretary of the Interior an amount equal to the product of—

(A) the total number of Indian children enrolled in schools that are operated by—

(i) the Bureau of Indian Education; or

(ii) an Indian tribe, or an organization controlled or sanctioned by an Indian tribal government, for the children of that tribe under a contract with, or grant from, the Department of the Interior under the Indian Self-Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.] or the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 [25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.]; and

(B) the greater of—

(i) the average per pupil expenditure of the State in which the school is located; or

(ii) 80 percent of the average per pupil expenditure of all the States.

(2) Special rule

(e) Ratable reductions

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6113, formerly title VII, § 7113, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1908, renumbered title VI, § 6113, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (3), § 6002(e), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2049.)

§ 7424. Applications

(a) Application required

(b) Comprehensive program requiredEach application submitted under subsection (a) shall include a description of a comprehensive program for meeting the needs of Indian children served by the local educational agency, including the language and cultural needs of the children, that—

(1) describes how the comprehensive program will offer programs and activities to meet the culturally related academic needs of Indian students;

(2)

(A) is consistent with the State, tribal, and local plans submitted under other provisions of this chapter; and

(B) includes program objectives and outcomes for activities under this subpart that are based on the same challenging State academic standards developed by the State under subchapter I for all students;

(3) explains how the grantee will use funds made available under this subpart to supplement other Federal, State, and local programs that meet the needs of Indian students;

(4) demonstrates how funds made available under this subpart will be used for activities described in section 7425 of this title;

(5) describes the professional development opportunities that will be provided, as needed, to ensure that—

(A) teachers and other school professionals who are new to the Indian community are prepared to work with Indian children; and

(B) all teachers who will be involved in programs assisted under this subpart have been properly trained to carry out such programs;

(6) describes how the local educational agency—

(A) will periodically assess the progress of all Indian children enrolled in the schools of the local educational agency, including Indian children who do not participate in programs assisted under this subpart, in meeting the goals described in paragraph (2);

(B) will provide the results of each assessment referred to in subparagraph (A) to—

(i) the committee described in subsection (c)(4);

(ii) the community served by the local educational agency; and

(iii) the Indian tribes whose children are served by the local educational agency, consistent with section 1232g of this title (commonly referred to as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”); and

(C) is responding to findings of any previous assessments that are similar to the assessments described in subparagraph (A); and

(7) describes the process the local educational agency used to meaningfully collaborate with Indian tribes located in the community in a timely, active, and ongoing manner in the development of the comprehensive program and the actions taken as a result of such collaboration.

(1) the local educational agency will use funds received under this subpart only to supplement the funds that, in the absence of the Federal funds made available under this subpart, such agency would make available for services described in this subsection, and not to supplant such funds;

(2) the local educational agency will prepare and submit to the Secretary such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Secretary may require to—

(A) carry out the functions of the Secretary under this subpart;

(B) determine the extent to which activities carried out with funds provided to the local educational agency under this subpart are effective in improving the educational achievement of Indian students served by such agency, and meet program objectives and outcomes for activities under this subpart; and

(C) determine the extent to which such activities by the local educational agency address the unique cultural, language, and educational needs of Indian students;

(3) the program for which assistance is sought—

(A) is based on a comprehensive local assessment and prioritization of the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of the Indian students for whom the local educational agency is providing an education;

(B) will use the best available talents and resources, including individuals from the Indian community; and

(C) was developed by such agency in open consultation with parents of Indian children and teachers, representatives of Indian tribes on Indian lands located within 50 miles of any school that the agency will serve if such tribes have any children in such school, Indian organizations, and, if appropriate, Indian students from secondary schools, including through public hearings held by such agency to provide to the individuals described in this subparagraph a full opportunity to understand the program and to offer recommendations regarding the program;

(4) the local educational agency developed the program with the participation and written approval of a committee—

(A) that is composed of, and selected by—

(i) parents and family members of Indian children in the local educational agency’s schools;

(ii) representatives of Indian tribes on Indian lands located within 50 miles of any school that the agency will serve if such tribes have any children in such school;

(iii) teachers in the schools; and

(iv) if appropriate, Indian students attending secondary schools of the agency;

(B) a majority of whose members are parents and family members of Indian children;

(C) with respect to an application describing a schoolwide program in accordance with section 7425(c) of this title, that has—

(i) reviewed in a timely fashion the program;

(ii) determined that the program will not diminish the availability of culturally related activities for Indian students; and

(iii) determined that the program will directly enhance the educational experience of Indian students; and

(D) that has adopted reasonable bylaws for the conduct of the activities of the committee and abides by such bylaws;

(5) the local educational agency will coordinate activities under this subchapter with other Federal programs supporting educational and related services administered by such agency;

(6) the local educational agency conducted outreach to parents and family members to meet the requirements under this paragraph;

(7) the local educational agency will use funds received under this subpart only for activities described and authorized in this subpart; and

(8) the local educational agency has set forth such policies and procedures, including policies and procedures relating to the hiring of personnel, as will ensure that the program for which assistance is sought will be operated and evaluated in consultation with, and with the involvement of, parents and family members of the children, and representatives of the area, to be served.

(d) Technical assistanceThe Secretary shall, directly or by contract, provide technical assistance to a local educational agency or Bureau of Indian Education school upon request (in addition to any technical assistance available under other provisions of this chapter or available through the Institute of Education Sciences) to support the services and activities provided under this subpart, including technical assistance for—

(1) the development of applications under this subpart, including identifying eligible entities that have not applied for such grants and undertaking appropriate activities to encourage such entities to apply for grants under this subpart;

(2) improvement in the quality of implementation, span, and evaluation of activities supported under this subpart; and

(3) integration of activities under this subpart with other educational activities carried out by the local educational agency.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6114, formerly title VII, § 7114, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1910, renumbered title VI, § 6114, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (4), § 6002(f), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2049.)

§ 7425. Authorized services and activities

(a) General requirements

Each local educational agency that receives a grant under this subpart shall use the grant funds, in a manner consistent with the purpose specified in section 7421 of this title, for services and activities that—

(1) are designed to carry out the comprehensive program of the local educational agency for Indian students, and described in the application of the local educational agency submitted to the Secretary under section 7424(a) of this title solely for the services and activities described in such application;

(2) are designed to be responsive to the language and cultural needs of the Indian students; and

(3) supplement and enrich the regular school program of such agency.

(b) Particular activities

The services and activities referred to in subsection (a) may include—

(1) activities that support Native American language programs and Native American language restoration programs, which may be taught by traditional leaders;

(2) culturally related activities that support the program described in the application submitted by the local educational agency;

(3) early childhood and family programs that emphasize school readiness;

(4) enrichment programs that focus on problem solving and cognitive skills development and directly support the attainment of challenging State academic standards;

(5) integrated educational services in combination with other programs that meet the needs of Indian children and their families, including programs that promote parental involvement in school activities and increase student achievement;

(6) career preparation activities to enable Indian students to participate in programs such as the programs supported by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.), including programs for mentoring and apprenticeship;

(7) activities to educate individuals so as to prevent violence, suicide, and substance abuse;

(8) the acquisition of equipment, but only if the acquisition of the equipment is essential to achieve the purpose described in section 7421 of this title;

(9) activities that promote the incorporation of culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies into the educational program of the local educational agency;

(10) family literacy services;

(11) activities that recognize and support the unique cultural and educational needs of Indian children, and incorporate appropriately qualified tribal elders and seniors;

(12) dropout prevention strategies for Indian students; and

(13) strategies to meet the educational needs of at-risk Indian students in correctional facilities, including such strategies that support Indian students who are transitioning from such facilities to schools served by local educational agencies.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local educational agency may use funds made available to such agency under this subpart to support a schoolwide program under section 6314 of this title if—

(1) the committee established pursuant to section 7424(c)(4) of this title approves the use of the funds for the schoolwide program;

(2) the schoolwide program is consistent with the purpose described in section 7421 of this title; and

(3) the local educational agency identifies in its application how the use of such funds in a schoolwide program will produce benefits to Indian students that would not be achieved if the funds were not used in a schoolwide program.

(d) Limitation on administrative costs

(e) Limitation on the use of funds

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6115, formerly title VII, § 7115, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1912; amended Pub. L. 109–270, § 2(f)(4), Aug. 12, 2006, 120 Stat. 747, renumbered title VI, § 6115, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (5), 6002(g), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2052; Pub. L. 115–224, title III, § 302(2), July 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 1623.)

§ 7426. Integration of services authorized

(a) Plan

(b) Consolidation of programs

(d) Plan requirements

For a plan to be acceptable pursuant to subsection (b), the plan shall—

(1) identify the programs or funding sources to be consolidated;

(2) be consistent with the objectives of this section concerning authorizing the services to be integrated in a demonstration project;

(3) describe a comprehensive strategy that identifies the full range of potential educational opportunities and related services to be provided to assist Indian students to achieve the objectives set forth in this subpart;

(4) describe the way in which services are to be integrated and delivered and the results expected from the plan;

(5) identify the projected expenditures under the plan in a single budget;

(6) identify the State, tribal, or local agency or agencies to be involved in the delivery of the services integrated under the plan;

(7) identify any statutory provisions, regulations, policies, or procedures that the entity believes need to be waived in order to implement the plan;

(8) set forth measures for academic span and student academic achievement goals designed to be met within a specific period of time; and

(9) be approved by a committee formed in accordance with section 7424(c)(4) of this title, if such a committee exists.

(e) Plan review

(f) Plan approval

(g) Responsibilities of Department of Education

Not later than 180 days after December 10, 2015, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the head of any other Federal department or agency identified by the Secretary of Education, shall enter into an interdepartmental memorandum of agreement providing for the implementation and coordination of the demonstration projects authorized under this section. The lead agency head for a demonstration project under this section shall be—

(1) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of an entity meeting the definition of a contract or grant school under title XI of the Education Amendments of 1978 [25 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.]; or

(2) the Secretary of Education, in the case of any other entity.

(h) Responsibilities of lead agency

The responsibilities of the lead agency shall include—

(1) the use of a single report format related to the plan for the individual project, which shall be used by an eligible entity to report on the activities undertaken under the project;

(2) the use of a single report format related to the projected expenditures for the individual project which shall be used by an eligible entity to report on all project expenditures;

(3) the development of a single system of Federal oversight for the project, which shall be implemented by the lead agency; and

(4) the provision of technical assistance to an eligible entity appropriate to the project, except that an eligible entity shall have the authority to accept or reject the plan for providing such technical assistance and the technical assistance provider.

(i) Report requirements

(j) No reduction in amounts

(k) Interagency fund transfers authorized

(l) Administration of funds

(1) In general

(2) Separate records not required

(m) Overage

(n) Fiscal accountability

(o) Report on statutory obstacles to program integration

(1) Preliminary report

(2) Final report

(p) Definitions

For the purposes of this section, the term “Secretary” means—

(1) the Secretary of the Interior, in the case of an entity meeting the definition of a contract or grant school under title XI of the Education Amendments of 1978 [25 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.]; or

(2) the Secretary of Education, in the case of any other entity.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6116, formerly title VII, § 7116, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1913; renumbered title VI, § 6116, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (6), 6002(h), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2047, 2053.)

§ 7427. Student eligibility forms

(a) In general

(b) FormsThe form described in subsection (a) shall include—

(1) either—

(A)

(i) the name of the tribe or band of Indians (as defined in

(ii) the enrollment number establishing the membership of the child (if readily available); and

(iii) the name and address of the organization that maintains updated and accurate membership data for such tribe or band of Indians; or

(B) the name, the enrollment number (if readily available), and the name and address of the organization responsible for maintaining updated and accurate membership data, of any parent or grandparent of the child from whom the child claims eligibility under this subpart, if the child is not a member of the tribe or band of Indians (as so defined);

(2) a statement of whether the tribe or band of Indians (as so defined), with respect to which the child, or parent or grandparent of the child, claims membership, is federally recognized;

(3) the name and address of the parent or legal guardian of the child;

(4) a signature of the parent or legal guardian of the child that verifies the accuracy of the information supplied; and

(5) any other information that the Secretary considers necessary to provide an accurate program profile.

(d) Documentation and types of proof

(1) Types of proof

(2) No new or duplicative determinations

(3) Previously filed forms

(e) Monitoring and evaluation review

(1) In general

(A) Review

(B) Exception

(2) False informationAny local educational agency that provides false information in an application for a grant under this subpart shall—

(A) be ineligible to apply for any other grant under this subpart; and

(B) be liable to the United States for any funds from the grant that have not been expended.

(3) Excluded children

(f) Tribal grant and contract schoolsNotwithstanding any other provision of this section, in calculating the amount of a grant under this subpart to a tribal school that receives a grant or contract from the Bureau of Indian Education, the Secretary shall use only one of the following, as selected by the school:

(1) A count of the number of students in the schools certified by the Bureau.

(2) A count of the number of students for whom the school has eligibility forms that comply with this section.

(g) Timing of child countsFor purposes of determining the number of children to be counted in calculating the amount of a local educational agency’s grant under this subpart (other than in the case described in subsection (f)(1)), the local educational agency shall—

(1) establish a date on, or a period not longer than 31 consecutive days during, which the agency counts those children, if that date or period occurs before the deadline established by the Secretary for submitting an application under section 7424 of this title; and

(2) determine that each such child was enrolled, and receiving a free public education, in a school of the agency on that date or during that period, as the case may be.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6117, formerly title VII, § 7117, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1916; renumbered title VI, § 6117, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (7), 6002(i), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2047, 2053.)

§ 7428. Payments

(a) In general

(b) Payments taken into account by the State

(d) Reallocations

The Secretary may reallocate, in a manner that the Secretary determines will best carry out the purpose of this subpart, any amounts that—

(1) based on estimates made by local educational agencies or other information, the Secretary determines will not be needed by such agencies to carry out approved programs under this subpart; or

(2) otherwise become available for reallocation under this subpart.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6118, formerly title VII, § 7118, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1918; renumbered title VI, § 6118, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, §§ 6001(a), (b)(1), (8), 6002(j), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2047, 2054.)

§ 7429. State educational agency review

Before submitting an application to the Secretary under section 7424 of this title, a local educational agency shall submit the application to the State educational agency, which may comment on such application. If the State educational agency comments on the application, the agency shall comment on all applications submitted by local educational agencies in the State and shall provide those comments to the respective local educational agencies, with an opportunity to respond.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VI, § 6119, formerly title VII, § 7119, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title VII, § 701, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1919; renumbered title VI, § 6119, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title VI, § 6001(a), (b)(1), (9), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2046, 2047.)