Frequently Asked Questions for Tribal Consultation

 When are Affirmation Forms Due?

Although grant applications are open for preliminary allocations, tribal consultation forms for public schools, do not need to be submitted on May 1st. All forms are due prior to the first grant revision thus allowing time to incorporate tribal feedback.

This deadline is referenced on the Affirmation Form in the agreement section as shown below:

Tribal Consultation FAQ reference

Please use the button below to be directed to the form:

Affirmation Form

 Do LEAs need to consult with tribes if they do not have any students enrolled from these tribes? 

Yes. Tribal consultation is based on building relationships to help support Indigenous students. Student enrollments fluctuate over the years.  When you consider the Title grants covered under ESSA consultation and the specific needs these grants address, they go beyond tribal membership. Tribes may have resources or best practices to assist the LEA in supporting all Indigenous students (migratory, at risk, English learner, etc.).

If an LEA does not have any students enrolled from a tribe, it is most likely the tribe will choose to opt out of tribal consultation, but the tribe needs to be given the option to do so.  In that case, the authorized tribal representative would check the "Tribal opt out option" box on the Affirmation of Tribal Consultation form and sign. 

However, an LEA may find that these tribes have valuable resources that could support the LEA's Title grant programs.  Particularly if you review the list of other LEAs these tribes are consulting with (Affected LEAs section, Tribes and Affected LEAs link). There could be best practices the tribe uses with other LEAs that may be applicable to your organization.  The intent of consultation is to open dialogue and identify all options for supporting our students.

 How do I contact the tribe for consultation? 

Contact information for the tribes can be found using the button below. Please contact us if you need assistance working with the tribes.

Tribal Education Department Contacts

  I am new to tribal consultation, where do I begin? 

The best place to start is with the Tribal Consultation Guide. The next step would be to review the training section of the website.  In addition, the OIE staff is available to provide virtual training with an organization's team. If interested, please contact the Tribal Grants Specialist, [email protected]

How often does the Office of Indian Education offer training in tribal consultation? 

In person training has been placed on hold due to COVID.  However, training presentations are available under the Tribal Consultation Training section above or a virtual training session can be schedulded.  Please contact the Tribal Grants Specialist, [email protected], if you would like additional training. 

 Are affected LEAs required to consult with a tribe that has "BIE Schools only"?

Yes, consultation is still required. The Local Educational Agency (LEA) may have students enrolled, such as the Hope Tribe.  In addition, if the Hopi Tribe is within the tribal consultation service area of the LEA, it is a Federal requirement to consult with the tribe. Consultation can only be dismissed if the tribe opts out.  Click the button below to read the tribal consultation requirements:

Tribal Consultation Requirements

The note regarding "BIE schools only" for the Hopi Tribe, identifies that there are only Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools on Hopi's tribal land.  The Hopi Tribe does not have any public schools on its reservation.