Tribal Consultation on Fiscal Year 2026 Grantmaking Priorities
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 2:30–5:30 p.m. ET
On August 26, 2025, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) will conduct Tribal Consultation on Fiscal Year 2026 grantmaking priorities for the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) and Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). The purpose of this consultation will be to receive meaningful input from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to ensure that Tribal leaders' views inform the design of potential grant priorities. ED remains committed to upholding the federal trust responsibility as set forth in the Constitution of the United States, treaties, executive orders, and court decisions. This consultation will be conducted by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and facilitated by the Tribal Consultation Official for ED.
Venue: ZoomGov
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
Time: 2:30–5:30 p.m. ET
Click the link above or copy the URL below into your browser and press enter:
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/jc8ekyhbSCy4Y3witEwZdg#/registration
Please follow the registration link above to participate in the consultation. To maintain online security, each attendee must register individually, and registration cannot be transferred to or used by others. Once you have completed registration, an individualized access link for the session will be sent to you with additional information
Written Comment Period
Written public comments for a topic will only be collected through the TribalConsultation@ed.gov email address. The comment period is now open and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on 09/26/2025.
An Indian Tribe may designate information provided during the consultation as “sensitive” and request non-disclosure of the information to the public. Certain federal laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, may require disclosure of information designated sensitive by a Tribal government. Questions about this notice can be sent to TribalConsultation@ed.gov. This consultation is a closed press event.
Background
ED will be consulting on the following program(s) below:
1. Native American Career and Technical Education (NACTEP) Program
In FY 2026, OCTAE plans to hold a new competition and estimates $17 million available to make new grant awards. Grantees use funds for preparatory, refresher, and remedial education services that are designed to enable students to achieve success in career and technical education programs or programs of studies. Grantees also provide stipends to students who are enrolled in career and technical education programs and who have acute economic needs which cannot be met through work-study programs. NACTEP is authorized by Section 116 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins V).
2. State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Program
In FY 2026, OIE anticipates receiving congressional directive language that may require grantmaking activities. Grantees use funds to promote the coordination of tribal, state, and local educational agencies to meet the unique educational and culturally related needs of Indian students. Grantees either develop a Tribal Educational Agency (TEA) operating as a “tribal charter school” or build capacity to administer and coordinate education programs via a Tribal Educational Agency operating as a “Tribal Education Department.” STEP is authorized by Section 6132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
3. Native American Languages (NAL) Program
In FY 2026, OIE anticipates receiving congressional directive language that may require grantmaking activities. Grantees use funds to support the usage of Native American Languages as a medium of instruction. Grantees either maintain or expand full-immersion or partial-immersion Native American Language programs. NAL is authorized by Section 6133 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
Consultation Questions
ED invites Tribal leaders to provide input on the following questions:
1. On May 21, 2025, ED published a Notice of Proposed Secretarial Supplemental Priorities (90 FR 21710). On July 21, 2025, ED published an additional priority (90 FR 34203). If ED were to use any of these four proposed priorities, please rank order their importance (1 being the most important and 4 being the least) as it relates to your community:
· Evidence-Based Literacy
· Education Choice
· Returning Education to the States [and Tribes]
· Advancing Artificial Intelligence in Education
2. As each priority could relate to each of the NACTEP, STEP, or NAL programs differently could you please share your comments on the potential strengths, opportunities, and challenges with applying a proposed priority to a program?
3. Are there any other priority areas not covered under the proposed Secretarial Supplemental Priorities that should be considered for NACTEP, STEP, or NAL?
4. On April 23, 2025, the White House published Executive Order 14278 “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future” (90 FR 17525). If ED were to focus on expanding access to registered apprenticeships, would such expansion align to any opportunities you are currently developing?
5. On July 23, 2024, OCTAE previously asked a question on “Direct Assistance to Students,” to identify any challenges associated with implementing the NACTEP direct assistance to students’ guidance (85 FR 76548). Since then, are there any changes needed to the direct assistance to students’ guidance?
6. Have you considered consolidating your NACTEP or STEP grant award via Public Law 102-477 (usually referred to simply as “477”)? As part of returning education to the Tribes, how can ED continue to support you before and after grants have been consolidated via 477?
Thank you in advance for your input and participation–we look forward to visiting and consulting with Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and Native Hawaiian Organizations and their leadership to empower high-quality education for all students.
