Dear Tribal Leader:

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is currently in its third year of implementing its Strategic Direction (“Direction”) for 2018-2023. The BIE developed the Direction through formal timely and meaningful consultation from Tribal leaders and stakeholders, such as school boards, union members, educators, and families of Native students. During the original Tribal consultation and listening sessions, the BIE stated it would provide a mid-cycle review to report implementation progress and receive input regarding the potential need to make substantive changes to the Direction. Given the unforeseen impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the need to provide Tribes and other stakeholders with a meaningful opportunity to shape the remaining years of the BIE’ s implementation efforts is especially important.

To obtain your input regarding years 4 and 5 of the Direction, the BIE Performance Office designated separate listening sessions to focus input on each of the Direction’s six mission areas and goals. The listening sessions are scheduled as follows:

• Mission Area: Comprehensive Strategic Direction Overview
  August 24, 2021, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. CST
• Goal 01 – High-Quality, Early Childhood Education
  August 24, 2021, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CST
• Goal 02 – Wellness, Behavioral Health, and Safety
  August 25, 2021, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CST
• Goal 03 – K-12 Instruction and High Academic Standards
  August 25, 2021, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST
• Goal 04 – Postsecondary and Career Readiness
  August 25, 2021, 2 p.m. – 3 :30 p.m. CST
• Goal 05 – Self-Determination
  August 26, 2021, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. CST
• Goal 06 – Performance Management
  August 26, 2021, 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CST

Similar to BIE’s initial Tribal consultation held prior to the Direction’s implementation, comments received during the mid-cycle listening sessions will be recorded for consideration. To submit formal written comments, please send your feedback to Chelsea.Wilson@bie.edu by Friday, September 3, 2021, to ensure timely consideration.

If you have any questions, please contact Chelsea Wilson, at (703) 581-3064 or Chelsea.Wilson@bie.edu. I look forward to your input.

Sincerely,

Tony L. Dearman
Director – Bureau of Indian Education