Title VI, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

ESSA Title VI, Part A amends Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Indian education programs. ESSA was signed in December 2015.

Title VI, Part A - Indian Education

​Title VI contains three parts: Indian Education, Native Hawaiian Education, and Alaska Native Education. Parts B and C deal with Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Education and are not applicable to Wisconsin schools. As part of the federal trust responsibility, Title VI addresses the "unique educational and culturally-related academic needs," including language-related needs, of American Indian students through formula grants to eligible Local Education Agencies (LEA) and American Indian nations and tribal communities from U.S. Department of Education. The act also provides competitive grant opportunities for "Special Programs and Projects to Improve Educational Opportunities for Indian Children," and authorizes other expenditures to serve American Indians, including fellowships, gifted and talented education, and tribal educational planning grants.

Part A -- Indian Education

• Subpart 1 authorizes formula grants to LEAs. Funds go directly from the Office of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Education to the grantees. Grantees shall submit a copy of their application to the Content and Learning Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
• Subpart 2 authorizes competitive grants for projects designed to develop, test, or demonstrate effective practices and services that increase educational opportunities for American Indian students. It also authorizes funds for training and support for American Indians in teaching or other education professions.
• Subpart 3 authorizes national activities including in-service training, fellowships for American Indian students, establishment of gifted and talented education centers, demonstration grants for gifted and talented education, education planning grants for tribes, adult education services

Formula grant applicants are required to send their applications to the State Education Agencies (SEA), but Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools are exempt from this requirement. For guidance on applying for the formula grant visit the Office of Indian Education, Indian Formula Grant Applicant Information, Program, and Resources.

Competitive Applications: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is eligible to apply for funds under subparts 2 and 3. Colleges and universities, including Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College and College of the Menominee Nation, are eligible to apply for funds under subparts 2 and 3. The program is directly administered by U.S. Department of Education.

Federal Contact:

Bob Ambrosio, Program Specialist
Office of Indian Education
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-6335
(202) 260-1727

For questions about this information, contact David O'Connor (608) 267-2283