Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

25 U.S.C. § 2021

Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise specified:
(1)

Agency school board

The term “agency school board” means a body—
(A)
the members of which are appointed by all of the school boards of the schools located within an agency, including schools operated under contract or grant; and
(B)
the number of such members is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the affected tribes;
except that, in agencies serving a single school, the school board of such school shall fulfill these duties, and in agencies having schools or a school operated under contract or grant, one such member at least shall be from such a school.
(2)

Bureau

The term “Bureau” means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior.

(3)

Bureau-funded school

The term “Bureau-funded school” means—
(A)
a Bureau school;
(B)
a contract or grant school; or
(C)
25 U.S.C. 2501 a school for which assistance is provided under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 [ et seq.].
(4)

Bureau school

The term “Bureau school” means a Bureau-operated elementary or secondary day or boarding school or a Bureau-operated dormitory for students attending a school other than a Bureau school.

(5)

Complementary educational facilities

The term “complementary educational facilities” means educational program functional spaces such as libraries, gymnasiums, and cafeterias.

(6)

Contract or grant school

25 U.S.C. 2501The term “contract or grant school” means an elementary school, secondary school, or dormitory that receives financial assistance for its operation under a contract, grant, or agreement with the Bureau under section 5321, 5322(a), or 5352 of this title, or under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 [ et seq.].

(7)

Director

The term “Director” means the Director of the Office of Indian Education Programs.

(8)

Education line officer

The term “education line officer” means a member of the education personnel under the supervision of the Director of the Office, whether located in a central, area, or agency office.

(9)

Family literacy services

section 7801 of title 20The term “family literacy services” has the meaning given that term in .

(10)

Financial plan

The term “financial plan” means a plan of services provided by each Bureau school.

(11)

Indian organization

The term “Indian organization” means any group, association, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity owned or controlled by a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribes, or a majority of whose members are members of federally recognized tribes.

(12)

Inherently Federal functions

section 2006(c) of this titleThe term “inherently Federal functions” means functions and responsibilities which, under , are noncontractable, including—
(A)
the allocation and obligation of Federal funds and determinations as to the amounts of expenditures;
(B)
the administration of Federal personnel laws for Federal employees;
(C)
the administration of Federal contracting and grant laws, including the monitoring and auditing of contracts and grants in order to maintain the continuing trust, programmatic, and fiscal responsibilities of the Secretary;
(D)
the conducting of administrative hearings and deciding of administrative appeals;
(E)
the determination of the Secretary’s views and recommendations concerning administrative appeals or litigation and the representation of the Secretary in administrative appeals and litigation;
(F)
the issuance of Federal regulations and policies as well as any documents published in the Federal Register;
(G)
reporting to Congress and the President;
(H)
the formulation of the Secretary’s and the President’s policies and their budgetary and legislative recommendations and views; and
(I)
the nondelegable statutory duties of the Secretary relating to trust resources.
(13)

Local educational agency

The term “local educational agency” means a board of education or other legally constituted local school authority having administrative control and direction of free public education in a county, township, or independent or other school district located within a State, and includes any State agency that directly operates and maintains facilities for providing free public education.

(14)

Local school board

The term “local school board”, when used with respect to a Bureau school, means a body chosen in accordance with the laws of the tribe to be served or, in the absence of such laws, elected by the parents of the Indian children attending the school, except that, for a school serving a substantial number of students from different tribes—
(A)
the members of the body shall be appointed by the tribal governing bodies of the tribes affected; and
(B)
the number of such members shall be determined by the Secretary in consultation with the affected tribes.
(15)

Office

The term “Office” means the Office of Indian Education Programs within the Bureau.

(16)

Regulation

(A)

In general

The term “regulation” means any part of a statement of general or particular applicability of the Secretary designed to carry out, interpret, or prescribe law or policy in carrying out this Act.

(B)

Rule of construction

Nothing in subparagraph (A) or any other provision of this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary from issuing guidance, internal directives, or other documents similar to the documents found in the Indian Affairs Manual of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

(17)

Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(18)

Supervisor

The term “supervisor” means the individual in the position of ultimate authority at a Bureau school.

(19)

Tribal governing body

The term “tribal governing body” means, with respect to any school, the tribal governing body, or tribal governing bodies, that represent at least 90 percent of the students served by such school.

(20)

Tribe

43 U.S.C. 1601The term “tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including an Alaska Native Regional Corporation or Village Corporation (as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [ et seq.]), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1141Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1042115 Stat. 2061Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(cc)(2)129 Stat. 2173(, as added , , ; amended , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 100–297102 Stat. 385section 2501 of this titleThe Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988, referred to in pars. (3)(C) and (6), is part B (§ 5201–5212) of title V of , , , as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 27 (§ 2501 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 95–56192 Stat. 2143section 6301 of Title 20This Act, referred to in par. (16)(A), means , , , as amended, known as the Education Amendments of 1978. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under , Education, and Tables.

Pub. L. 95–561This chapter, referred to in par. (16)(B), was in the original “this title”, meaning title XI (§ 1101 et seq.) of , as amended, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title XI to the Code, see Tables.

Pub. L. 92–20385 Stat. 688section 1601 of Title 43The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (20), is , , , as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1141Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381108 Stat. 4012Pub. L. 107–110section 2012 of this titleA prior section 2021, , as added , , , related to proration of pay, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by . See .

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1140APub. L. 98–511, title V, § 51298 Stat. 2398Pub. L. 99–89, § 9(a)(1)99 Stat. 383Pub. L. 103–382Another prior section 2021, , formerly § 1141, as added , , ; renumbered § 1140A and amended , (b), , , related to proration of pay, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by .

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1142Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381108 Stat. 4012Pub. L. 107–110section 2012 of this titleA prior section 2022, , as added , , , related to extracurricular activities, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by . See .

Pub. L. 103–382Another prior section 2022 and prior sections 2022a and 2022b were omitted in the general amendment of this chapter by .

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1140BPub. L. 98–511, title V, § 51298 Stat. 2398Pub. L. 99–89, § 9(a)(1)99 Stat. 383Section 2022, , formerly § 1142, as added , , ; renumbered § 1140B, and amended , (c), , , related to extracurricular activities.

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1141Pub. L. 100–297, title V, § 5116(2)102 Stat. 381Section 2022a, , as added , , , related to early childhood development program.

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1142Pub. L. 100–297, title V, § 5119102 Stat. 383Section 2022b, , as added , , , related to tribal departments of education.

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1143Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381108 Stat. 4012Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title XVI, § 1607(a)]114 Stat. 2763Pub. L. 107–110section 2019 of this titleA prior section 2023, , as added , , ; amended , , , 2763A–335, related to early childhood development program, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by . See .

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1143Pub. L. 98–511, title V, § 51298 Stat. 2398Pub. L. 99–89, § 9(a)(2)99 Stat. 383Another prior section 2023, , as added , , , related to employee housing, rental rates, and waiver of rentals during non-session periods and non-pay status, prior to repeal by , , .

Pub. L. 107–110Prior sections 2024 to 2026 were omitted in the general amendment of this chapter by .

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1144Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381108 Stat. 4013Pub. L. 105–244, title IX, § 901(d)112 Stat. 1828section 2020 of this titleSection 2024, , as added , , ; amended , , , related to tribal departments of education. See .

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1145Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381108 Stat. 4015Section 2025, , as added , , , related to payments to grantees.

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1146Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381108 Stat. 4015Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(4) [div. B, title XVI, § 1607(b)]114 Stat. 2763section 2021 of this titleSection 2026, , as added , , ; amended , , , 2763A–335, defined terms. See .

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–95section 7801 of title 202015—Par. (9). made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–95section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95section 6301 of Title 20Amendment by effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as a note under , Education.

Effective Date

section 5 of Pub. L. 107–110section 6301 of Title 20Section effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as a note under , Education.