Special Education

Understanding Special Education Department within BIE

The Special Education Program is housed in the BIE Division of Performance and Accountability (DPA). The Special Education Program plays a role in helping Education Resource Centers and Schools achieve Results-Driven Accountability for special education programs in Bureau-operated, Tribally Controlled, and Navajo schools throughout the country. The BIE has a responsibility to monitor the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Special Education Staff

Supervisory Education Specialists: Provides team leadership and technical assistance to Education Program Specialists located in various Education Resource Centers (ERC) ensuring that functions required to fulfill Department of Performance and Accountability (DPA) mission in accordance with federal requirements are met.

Education Program Specialists: Serves as the primary point of contact for Education Resource Centers (ERC) to improve outcomes for students with disabilities through effective implementation of federal and state laws, regulations, and rules related to special education. Education Program Specialists provide technical assistance on IDEA.

Our Partners

BIE special education partners have long-standing positive relationships with OSEP-funded technical assistance providers.

State Performance Plan

The BIE has developed a state performance plan/annual performance report (SPP/APR) that evaluates the BIE's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of the IDEA and describes how the BIE will improve its implementation. The SPP/APR includes indicators that measure child and family outcomes and other indicators that measure compliance with the requirements of the IDEA.BIE is required to submit a state performance plan (SPP) at least every six years. Each year, BIE reports against the targets in its SPP in an annual performance report (APR).

The Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) uses information from the SPP/APR to annually determine if BIE:

(1) Meets requirements and purposes of the IDEA

(2) Needs assistance in implementing the requirements of Part B

(3) Needs intervention in implementing the requirements of Part B

(4) Needs substantial intervention in implementing the requirements of Part B

State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)

The State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) is a multi-year plan, developed in collaboration with the Stakeholders, to increase the number of youth with disabilities engaged (e.g., enrolled in higher education, competitively employed) one-year out of high school.

Policies, Procedures, and Effective Implementation

States, including the BIE, are required to have policies and procedures that are aligned with the IDEA 345 CFR 300.100. BIE's special education policies and procedures support state and local implementation the IDEA.

Dear School Leader Letter, Missed IEP Services, September 2023

Integrated Monitoring Activities

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the BIE must employ general supervision activities that include monitoring of local educational agencies (LEAs) with a particular emphases on improving educational results and functional outcomes for all students with disabilities while ensuring that LEAs meet the requirements of the IDEA Part B. The BIE implements procedures for monitoring activities in accordance with the IDEA Part B, federal regulation 34 CFR 300.600 State monitoring and enforcement.

Fiscal Management

IDEA funds are provided for the excess cost of special education and related services for students with disabilities. IDEA funds are intended to supplement and not supplant state, local or other federal funds. Funds are awarded to the BIE by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), to "flow-through" to the LEA contingent upon an LEAs application for Part B funds. The BIE must ensure fiscal accountability at each phase in the distribution and use of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B funds.

BIE FFY 2023 IDEA Part B Grant Award Application

Data on Processes and Results

As part of a state's general supervision responsibilities, data are used for decision making about program management and improvement. This process includes:

(1) data collection and verification

(2) data examination and analysis

(3) public reporting of data

MOU BIE IHS Indian Children with Disabilities 2012

(4) status determination

(5) improvement activities