Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Indian Education (OIE): State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Grant Program; Assistance Listing Number 84.415A
Can you apply?
This grant is for Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs) seeking to establish or strengthen partnerships with State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations approved by a Tribe, or consortiums of these entities. Tribes receiving funds from the Bureau of Indian Education under section 1140 of the Education Amendments of 1978 are NOT eligible. The program operates nationally and supports projects that improve academic achievement of Indian students and promote Tribal self-determination in education through coordinated partnerships.
Funded projects can include developing new TEAs, improving student outcomes (attendance, graduation, academic achievement, workforce development), and creating systems for cultural and language preservation in both Tribal schools and off-reservation public schools. The program requires draft written agreements between Tribal, state, and local partners before application.
This grant is for Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs) seeking to establish or strengthen partnerships with State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations approved by a Tribe, or consortiums of these entities. Tribes receiving funds from the Bureau of Indian Education under section 1140 of the Education Amendments of 1978 are NOT eligible. The program operates nationally and supports projects that improve academic achievement of Indian students and promote Tribal self-determination in education through coordinated partnerships.
Funded projects can include developing new TEAs, improving student outcomes (attendance, graduation, academic achievement, workforce development), and creating systems for cultural and language preservation in both Tribal schools and off-reservation public schools. The program requires draft written agreements between Tribal, state, and local partners before application.
Program description
Program Description: The Bureau of Indian Education at the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the State Tribal Education Partnerships (STEP) program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).
The purpose of State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) is to promote Tribal self-determination in education; improve the academic achievement of Indian children and youth; and promote the coordination and collaboration between Tribal Educational Agencies (TEAs), State Educational Agencies (SEAs), and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to meet the unique education and culturally related academic needs of Indian students.
STEP is authorized under section 6132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA). The intent of this competition is to return education to the Tribes and create opportunities where Tribes can exert sovereignty and self-determination. ED expects that TEA-SEA-LEA coordination will result in TEAs maintaining greater systemic connections with their Native children in public schools.
The requirement for a draft written agreement (DWA), as defined in this notice, helps to ensure that all relevant partners needed to achieve the project goals are included from the outset. For example, applicants could propose projects that include developing a TEA aimed at creating a Tribal education system that provides policies, structures and oversight that improves such student outcomes as attendance, graduation rate, academic achievement, workforce development, and career readiness.
ED remains committed to engaging in regular and meaningful consultation with Indian Tribes and sourced the design of this competition using input recently received from Tribal leaders on August 26, 2025, and previous input as published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2022 (87 FR 79824). On August 26, 2025, Tribal leaders expressed strong support for the STEP program’s role in fostering collaboration between LEAs and Tribes, particularly in areas like college readiness and student advising. Several leaders noted that maintaining Tribal control over education is essential for preserving culture and language opportunities for Native students, especially in off-reservation schools.
Assistance Listing Number: 84.415A.
Applicants should refer to the 2025 Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs, published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025 (90 FR 42234) and available at ED 2025 Common Instructions.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal Education Agencies (TEAs) seeking to establish or strengthen partnerships with State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations approved by a Tribe, or consortiums of these entities. Tribes receiving funds from the Bureau of Indian Education under section 1140 of the Education Amendments of 1978 are NOT eligible. The program operates nationally and supports projects that improve academic achievement of Indian students and promote Tribal self-determination in education through coordinated partnerships.
Funded projects can include developing new TEAs, improving student outcomes (attendance, graduation, academic achievement, workforce development), and creating systems for cultural and language preservation in both Tribal schools and off-reservation public schools. The program requires draft written agreements between Tribal, state, and local partners before application.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Abstract
- Draft Written Agreement (DWA) from TEA, SEA, and LEA partners
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Budget Justification
- Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if claiming indirect costs)
- Proof of Tribal recognition or Tribal organization approval letter
- Evaluation plan
- Assurances and Certifications
Program contact
- 👤 Holly Clark Management and Program Analyst
- 📧 linda.brake@ed.gov
- 📞 2022456408
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 84.415 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$3,964,701
-
$1,593,693
-
$1,507,530
-
$1,499,990
-
$1,446,030
-
$1,336,386
-
$1,062,511
-
$1,049,176
-
$1,047,838
-
$1,026,149
Top States by Funding
- OK 7 awards $6.2M
- HI 1 awards $4.0M
- AK 5 awards $3.1M
- SD 3 awards $2.7M
- WI 2 awards $2.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for STEP grants?
Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations approved by a Tribe, TEAs, and consortiums of these entities can apply. Tribes receiving BIE funds under section 1140 of the Education Amendments are not eligible.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is June 11, 2026 (fixed date). Applicants should refer to the 2025 Common Instructions for ED Discretionary Grant Programs for submission details.
What types of projects does STEP fund?
STEP funds partnerships between Tribal, state, and local education agencies to improve Indian student achievement, promote cultural/language preservation, and advance Tribal self-determination in education. Projects can include developing TEAs and improving graduation rates.
What partnerships are required?
Applicants must submit a draft written agreement (DWA) showing coordination between Tribal Educational Agencies, State Educational Agencies, and Local Educational Agencies before applying.
How competitive is this grant?
With $2 million in total funding and a national pool of eligible applicants, competition is typically moderate to strong. Strong applications emphasize Tribal sovereignty, community engagement, and clear partnership agreements.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Develop partnerships early and secure written commitment from SEAs and LEAs before writing your application. The draft written agreement is essential.
- Center Tribal self-determination and sovereignty in your project narrative. Emphasize how your TEA will maintain control over education and preserve language/culture.
- Include specific, measurable student outcome goals (attendance, graduation, academic achievement, workforce readiness). Link these to your partnership activities.
- Demonstrate how your project will serve both on-reservation and off-reservation Indian students in public schools. Don't overlook students in mainstream settings.
- Follow the 2025 Common Instructions for ED Discretionary Grants carefully. Non-compliance with formatting, budget, or submission requirements is a common reason for rejection.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting without a finalized draft written agreement from Tribal, state, and local partners. Many applications lack clear evidence of genuine coordination or fail to clarify who leads decision-making.
Vague or unmeasurable student outcome goals. Applications that state general intent without specific targets for graduation rates, attendance, or achievement often score poorly.
Failing to address how the project preserves Tribal sovereignty and self-determination in education. Reviewers prioritize proposals that genuinely return control to Tribes, not projects that appear token or top-down from state/federal agencies.
Similar grants
- OPEN 27-0343-10 FFY27 Local Agency General Non-Enforcement — Illinois Department of Transportation
- CLOSED Virginia’s Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Grant – FY26 — Virginia The Virginia Department of Historic Resources
- OPEN Special Education 2026-2027 – IDEA B Grants — North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
- OPEN FY 27 Computer Science Incentive Fund – ENDORSEMENTS — Iowa Education
- OPEN John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program 2026 (Prosecutors/Public Defenders) — Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy