Special Education Efforts for American Indian and Alaskan Native Children by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Research and Evaluation Report Series No. 47.

Overview & Synopsis

Studies conducted by the University of Tulsa, Arizona State University, Utah State University, and the Indian Health Service have indicated a high incidence of handicapping conditions among the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) student population. Of the approximately 50,000 students in the nearly 200 BIA schools, some 19,000 have been estimated to need special education services. Of these, about 4,000 are currently receiving some type of special education service. Although considerable special education activity has taken place in BIA schools over the past nine years, some 95% of the special education programs in the BIA have been operated with flow-through funds from the U.S. Office of Education. Some of these programs are Project COPE, Project PISCES, Project ASSET, Project IN-SLIP, Project MESA, and Project MASTER. Each year since 1972, the Office of Indian Education Programs has sought line item funding for special education in BIA schools, but has not been able to obtain it. Neither are there BIA regulations concerning the education of the handicapped. The two outstanding present needs concerning full special education services in the BIA are: budget line item for initiating and maintaining special education programs and services in BIA operated schools, and mandatory legislation with respect to the education of exceptional Indian children. (Author/NQ)