U.S.: Education, Interior, Labor Hold Largest Tribal Consultation on Indian Education Coordination
Washington, D.C. — Federal education leaders told Tribal officials this week they want to reduce administrative friction for Tribal schools and Native-serving training programs while keeping funding flowing to core services for students.
The U.S. Departments of Education, the Interior and Labor hosted a consultation with elected Tribal leadership on Tuesday to gather feedback on the Department of Education’s Indian Education Partnership, drawing more than 1,000 American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian participants, the agencies said.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the partnership is intended to help Tribal schools and training programs “focus on serving students instead of complying with burdensome bureaucratic regulations,” while maintaining support for critical programs. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Interior is preparing to take on a larger administrative role for certain Indian education programs in coordination with Education, aligning efforts across K-12, higher education and career pathways. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer highlighted workforce alignment, including apprenticeships and career pathways for Native youth and adults.
For families, the immediate takeaway is procedural: the written public comment period is open through 11:59 p.m. ET on March 12, 2026. Parents and educators who want to weigh in can share what’s working—or not—in areas like special education supports, transportation barriers, staffing and training access, and the pace of federal reporting requirements.
Looking ahead, the agencies have said they will review feedback and respond to questions as implementation of the interagency agreements moves forward. Families can monitor updates through federal Tribal consultation postings and Tribal education partners in their region.
