Apply for the STEP Program to Support Tribal Education

You might care about this because the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of the Interior are offering grants to improve education for Native American children and youth. This is for the Fiscal Year 2026 State Tribal Education Partnerships (STEP) program. The program aims to help Tribal communities have more control over their own education systems. It also works to raise academic success for Indian children. Another key goal is to improve working relationships between Tribal, State, and Local educational groups. If you are an Indian tribe, a Tribal organization, or a Tribal Educational Agency, you can apply. A group of these eligible applicants can also apply together. The application period is open now. You need to submit your proposal through Grants.gov by June 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. The program has specific priorities for this year. These include helping to create new Tribal Educational Agencies and strengthening those that are just starting out. All the details for applying, including these priorities and other rules, are available on the Department of Education's website, the Department of the Interior's website, and Grants.gov. The official instructions are found on Grants.gov. This notice makes it clear that support is available to make a real difference in Native American education. What makes this notice particularly interesting is its focus on Tribal self-determination in education. It is not just about funding schools. It is about giving Tribal communities more control to design and manage educational programs that fit their unique cultural and social needs. The program specifically calls out two absolute priorities for this year's competition. These are "Creating a Tribal Educational Agency" and "Expanding the Capacity of Early Tribal Educational Agencies." This shows a clear commitment to building up local Tribal education leadership and infrastructure from the ground up. This approach helps ensure that educational efforts are truly relevant and effective for Native American students. It acknowledges the importance of Tribal voices in shaping the future of their children's education. This kind of targeted support for Tribal control and capacity building is a significant step. It helps move away from one-size-fits-all education solutions. It supports systems that respect and uplift indigenous cultures and languages. This legal document would be most interesting to several groups. First, it is for leaders and administrators of Indian tribes and Tribal organizations. These groups are directly eligible to apply for the STEP program. Second, Tribal Educational Agencies, both existing ones and those looking to form, will find this extremely relevant. State Educational Agencies and Local Educational Agencies also have a strong interest. They are encouraged to work with Tribal groups under this program. Educators, policy makers, and researchers focused on Native American education or indigenous rights will also find this notice important. Anyone involved in grant writing or program development for community-based educational initiatives should also pay attention. Finally, parents, guardians, and advocates for Native American children and youth should be aware of this opportunity. It directly impacts the educational resources and quality available to their communities.