Indian Education: Actions Needed to Ensure Students with Disabilities Receive Special Education Services. Report to the Republican Leader, Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives. GAO-20-358

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  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov
    • Peer Reviewed:
      N
    • Source:
      48
    • Intended Audience:
      Policymakers
    • Education Level:
      Elementary Secondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      American Indian Education; American Indian Students; Students with Disabilities; Access to Education; Special Education; Equal Education; Educational Legislation; Federal Legislation; Compliance (Legal); Technical Assistance; Accountability; Individualized Education Programs; Elementary Secondary Education; Related Services (Special Education); Observation; Educational Policy; Federal Government; Government Role; Student Needs; Needs Assessment; Progress Monitoring; Public Agencies
    • Subject Terms:
      Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
    • Abstract:
      Schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) are required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to provide services for eligible students with disabilities, such as learning disabilities or health impairments. Services for these students are listed in individualized education programs (IEP). The Department of Education has raised concerns about BIE's implementation of IDEA in recent years, including its long-standing noncompliance with IDEA requirements. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to examine the provision of special education and related services to eligible BIE students. This report examines the extent to which: (1) BIE students with disabilities are provided the special education and related services required by their IEPs; and (2) BIE oversees and supports the provision of special education at its schools. GAO analyzed data on special education and related services for a generalizable sample of 138 BIE students with IEPs at 30 schools over a 4-month period in school year 2017-2018 (the most recent complete school year at the time of our analysis); compared BIE special education practices with its policies and Interior and IDEA requirements; visited schools in two states selected for their large numbers of BIE schools; and interviewed school and agency officials. GAO is making seven recommendations, including that BIE establish consistent requirements for schools on making up missed services, annually verify special education services at all schools, comply with high-risk monitoring and technical assistance requirements, and ensure that BIE staff receive needed training.
    • Abstract:
      ERIC
    • Publication Date:
      2021
    • Accession Number:
      ED609658