BIE ESSA Agency (State) Plan

Background

Section 8302 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), requires states to develop state plans. Previously, BIE submitted a consolidated state plan pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Act. The BIE NCLB consolidated state plan was subsequently referenced in three inter-agency agreements between the Department of the Interior, BIE and the Department of Education. Following the passage of ESSA the BIE and the Department of Education met on December 8, 2016 to discuss whether BIE would draft and implement a new state plan pursuant to ESSA. During that meeting, Department of Education officials stated that an ESSA state plan is optional for the BIE. Following the meeting, BIE leadership determined that the BIE will develop an ESSA state plan. However, that plan will not undergo the peer review process required of states. The purpose of BIE's state plan is to serve as a roadmap and internal guide to school improvement for BIE-funded schools.

ESEA Consolidated State Plans

On March 13, 2017, the Department released a revised template for the consolidated State plan under section 8302 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The purpose of the consolidated State plan is to provide parents with quality, transparent information about how the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, will be implemented in their State.

Even though a State Educational Agency (SEA) submits only the required information in its consolidated State plan, an SEA must still meet all ESEA requirements for each included program. For any program not included in a consolidated State plan, the SEA must submit individual program State plans that meet the statutory and regulatory requirements of each respective program.

BIE Approved Agency (State) Plan and Resources

Department of Education Approval Letter

U.S. Department of Education - ESSA