Advisory Board for Exceptional Children to Host Two-Day Meeting September 21-22, UIOs Encouraged To Attend

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) announced that the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children (the Advisory Board) will hold a two-day meeting, in-person and online, on Thursday, September 21, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Friday, September 22, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. The purpose of the meeting is to meet the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) for Indian children with disabilities.

The National Council of Urban Indian Health encourages urban Indian organization (UIO) leaders to attend and participate. The Advisory Board was established under the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, on the needs of Indian children with disabilities.

All Advisory Board activities will be conducted in-person and online. The onsite meeting location will be at the Crystal City Marriott, 1999 Richmond Highway, Arlington, Virginia. To attend the two-day meeting remotely, please register using this link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItf-2prTkjHQm8iBckGVMexfylXaLrHlo. Once registered, attendees can attend both meeting events. The meeting is open to the public in its entirety.

The following agenda items will be for the meeting on September 21- 22, 2023. The reports are regarding special education topics.

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). How can OSEP more directly support the BIE’s work in providing special education services that result in positive outcomes for children with disabilities across the BIE school system?
Office of the Secretary of the Interior. As the Secretary of the Interior, how do you ensure that all American Indian and Alaska Native children receive an equitable education?
BIE-Office of the Director. Provide updates on rural school internet access and include any challenges and potential resolves to the issues from BIE.
BIE Human Resources Office. During board meetings we consistently hear from Bureau Operated School (BOS) administrators that delays in the hiring process cost schools qualified hires. Can greater responsibility be provided to local school hiring authorities?
BIE Division of Performance and Accountability, (DPA)/BIE Special Education Program. Provide an update on IDEA, ESSA, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommendations report.
Associate Deputy Director (ADD), Regions for Bureau Operated Schools (BOS), Navajo Schools (BOS & TCS) and Tribally Controlled Schools (TCS)/Special Education Programs: What services do you provide for BIE funded schools? Provide an update on the 2022–2023 school year. Discuss the successes, challenges, ongoing goals, and other items that would be pertinent to the Advisory Board.
On Thursday, September 21, two 15-minute sessions will be provided, 11:00 a.m. EDT and 2:00 p.m. EDT. Public comments can be provided via webinar or telephone conference call.
On Friday, September 22, 2023, two 15-minute sessions will be provided, 9:30 a.m. EDT and 12:15 p.m. EDT. Public comments can be provided during the meeting or telephone conference call.

Public comments can be emailed to the DFO at Jennifer.davis@bie.edu; or faxed to (602) 265–0293 Attention: Jennifer Davis, DFO; or mailed or hand delivered to the Bureau of Indian Education, Attention: Jennifer Davis, DFO, 2600 N Central Ave., 12th Floor, Suite 250, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

To make requests in advance for sign language interpreter services, assistive listening devices, or other reasonable accommodations, please contact Jennifer Davis at least seven (7) business days prior to the meeting to give the Department of the Interior sufficient time to process your request. All reasonable accommodation requests are managed on a case-by-case basis.

More information, please use this link: Federal Register :: Advisory Board of Exceptional Children.