Indian Schools Student Transportation

(Student Transportation)
CFDA 15.044 Active Direct Payments for Specified Use
No open Grants.gov opportunities under this program right now. Browse all Department of the Interior programs →

Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$7.1M FY2025
$53.1M
FY16*
$4.6M
FY18
$17.7M
FY23
$15.2M
FY24
$7.1M
FY25*
* estimated

Funded Projects

Examples of what this program has supported.

FY2024 This award funded 3 programs for student transportation

Program Objective

To provide funds to each Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) funded school for the round trip transportation of students between home and the school site.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Federally recognized tribes
  • Native American organizations

Federally Recognized Indian Tribes or tribal organizations currently served by a BIE-funded school.

Beneficiaries

  • 20
  • 36
  • 9

Children between the ages of 5 and 21 who are members of or are at least a one-fourth degree Indian blood descendant of a member of an Indian tribe which is eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to Indians because of their status as Indians.

How to Apply

Application Procedure

To become a contract school, applications should be developed in accordance with 25 CFR Part 900. To become a grant school, applications should be developed in accordance with 25 USC 2501 et seq.

Award Procedure

The Education Line Officer will ensure the application is complete and forward the application to the Director, Bureau of Indian Education, with a recommendation for approval/disapproval.

Applications for contract schools will be processed within 90 days; applications for grant schools will be processed within 180 days after the date the application is submitted to the BIE Education Line Officer.

Program details & compliance

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Funds are to only be used for the transportation of students who are eligible under the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) as provided for under 25 CFR 39 and are enrolled in a BIE- funded school or dormitory.

Required Documentation

Written evidence of approval of the application by the tribal governing body of the students served by or to be served by the school. "Tribal governing body" means the tribal governing body or tribal governing bodies that represent at least 90 percent of the students served by such school.

Matching Requirements

Funds are allocated in accordance with 25 CFR 39 Subpart G. The Director, Bureau of Indian Education will review transportation allotment factors each year and make changes in factors based on changes in transportation costs.

Reporting & Compliance

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Joe Herrin
(202)208-7658
1849 C Street, N.W. Bureau of Indian Education, MS 4657 MIB, Washington, DC 20240
Douglas Ward
505-414-5035
1011 Indian School Road, NW - Suite 332, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2025-08-15. Spec v1.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:34:50.