Three tribes in Arizona have been awarded more than $600,000 to fund their education systems. The money is intended to support tribal control of their reservation's schools.
The Gila River Indian Community, the Navajo Nation and the Tohono O’odham Nation will receive $200,000 each. The money will be used to support the research and development needed to establish more tribally managed schools.
The funding follows a recommendation by the American Indian Education Study Group. It’s part of a reform plan the group released this summer suggesting the Bureau of Indian Education support tribal control of BIE-funded schools.
The Department of the Interior released the awards to six tribes nationally on Thursday. Officials say more local control will improve the federally funded system. In a statement, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said tribal governments have a better understanding of their community needs.