Bureau of Indian Education and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Native Services Announce Partnership to Support American Indian and Alaska Native Youth

Washington, DC – The Bureau of Indian Education has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Native Services to enhance educational opportunities for BIE students. This landmark partnership will strengthen Boys & Girls Clubs near BIE-funded schools and dormitories and establish new ones offering a range of programs focused on academic achievement, character development, and healthy lifestyles to enrich the lives of native youth and their communities. 

“Our commitment is to provide high-quality education that prepares students for success,” said BIE Director Tony Dearman. “Through this partnership, we can offer more support so students can learn, grow, and succeed.” 

The agreement reinforces BIE’s dedication to student wellness and success, emphasizing programs that build good citizenship and prepare youth for the future. This shared vision reflects the missions of both organizations — providing quality education and empowering young people to reach their full potential. 

“For more than 30 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America has partnered with tribal communities to provide safe, positive places for native youth,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of America Native Services National Vice President Carla Knapp. “This formal agreement with the Bureau of Indian Education is a powerful next step. By working directly with BIE schools, we can more effectively reach some of the most disadvantaged students in the country and provide them with the culturally relevant programs and caring adult mentors they need to thrive.” 

Under the agreement, BGCA will provide customized, culturally relevant training for BIE school staff. In turn, BIE will work with local school administrators to facilitate the partnership, helping to integrate club activities into the school setting and providing space for these valuable programs. 

“This partnership helps us support Native students in ways that reflect who they are — culturally, emotionally, and academically,” said Katherine Campbell, an education program specialist with the Bureau of Indian Education. “It’s about creating meaningful opportunities for growth and belonging.” 

This agreement builds on the legacy of BGCA’s Native Services, which has served as a catalyst for establishing nearly 250 clubs for approximately 120,000 native youth across 29 states since 1992. 

About the BIE 

The Bureau of Indian Education supports educational opportunities for more than 400,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students nationwide through early childhood, K–12, and postsecondary programs. BIE directly operates 55 schools, funds 128 Tribally controlled schools across 23 states, and supports native students in public schools through the Johnson-O’Malley program. The Bureau also provides early childhood and special education services, and it advances postsecondary opportunities by operating Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute while funding 33 Tribal Colleges and Universities that serve more than 22,000 students.