Did you know that while the state governments in all 50 states are responsible for educating the students in their states, the Federal government has direct responsibility for educating students in two school systems? That's right. The Federal government operates education programs for the children of U. S. military personnel stationed outside the United States. And, the government's Office of Indian Education Programs (OIEP) in the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funds and operates 185 elementary and secondary schools in 23 states for American Indian children living on 63 reservations. BIA also operates two higher education institutions and funds the operation of 25 Tribally Controlled Community Colleges.

Executive Order: Get Connected!

When President Clinton signed Executive Order 13096 on American Indian and Alaskan Native Education, he committed his administration to upgrading educational systems to foster improved American Indian student academic performance, and he promised to implement measures that would reduce the high drop-out rate of American Indian students - - both formidable challenges. To do this, the Executive Order sets out six education goals, including expanding the use of educational technology for the over 50,000 students in the BIA school system.