Title 25IndiansRelease 119-73

§2019 Early childhood development program

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 22— - BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS PROGRAMS › § 2019

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must give grants to tribes, tribal organizations, or groups of tribes so they can run early childhood programs. Each year, a tribe’s grant is its share of the money Congress provides. That share is based on how many children under 6 are members of that tribe or group, compared to all eligible tribes, after taking out the amounts used for administrative costs. No grant goes to any tribe or group made up of tribes with fewer than 500 members total. To get money, a tribe or group must apply and describe the program it will run. Funded programs must work with existing services and can offer things like prenatal care, nutrition help, health checks, family literacy, educational testing and other education services. They may teach tribal language, art, and culture. Programs must be checked from time to time for quality. Family literacy efforts must be coordinated with related federal programs to avoid duplication. The Secretary must include funds for administrative costs in the grants. Congress can provide whatever sums are needed to carry out this program.

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §2019

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall provide grants to tribes, tribal organizations, and consortia of tribes and tribal organizations to fund early childhood development programs that are operated by such tribes, organizations, or consortia.
(b)(1)The total amount of the grants provided under subsection (a) with respect to each tribe, tribal organization, or consortium of tribes or tribal organizations for each fiscal year shall be equal to the amount which bears the same relationship to the total amount appropriated under the authority of subsection (g) for such fiscal year (less amounts provided under subsection (f)) as—
(A)the total number of children under 6 years of age who are members of—
(i)such tribe;
(ii)the tribe that authorized such tribal organization; or
(iii)any tribe that—
(I)is a member of such consortium; or
(II)authorizes any tribal organization that is a member of such consortium; bears to
(B)the total number of all children under 6 years of age who are members of any tribe that—
(i)is eligible to receive funds under subsection (a);
(ii)is a member of a consortium that is eligible to receive such funds; or
(iii)authorizes a tribal organization that is eligible to receive such funds.
(2)No grant may be provided under subsection (a)—
(A)to any tribe that has less than 500 members;
(B)to any tribal organization which is authorized—
(i)by only one tribe that has less than 500 members; or
(ii)by one or more tribes that have a combined total membership of less than 500 members; or
(C)to any consortium composed of tribes, or tribal organizations authorized by tribes, that have a combined total tribal membership of less than 500 members.
(c)(1)A grant may be provided under subsection (a) to a tribe, tribal organization, or consortium of tribes and tribal organizations only if the tribe, organization, or consortium submits to the Secretary an application for the grant at such time and in such form as the Secretary shall prescribe.
(2)Applications submitted under paragraph (1) shall set forth the early childhood development program that the applicant desires to operate.
(d)The early childhood development programs that are funded by grants provided under subsection (a)—
(1)shall coordinate existing programs and may provide services that meet identified needs of parents and children under 6 years of age which are not being met by existing programs, including—
(A)prenatal care;
(B)nutrition education;
(C)health education and screening;
(D)family literacy services;
(E)educational testing; and
(F)other educational services;
(2)may include instruction in the language, art, and culture of the tribe; and
(3)shall provide for periodic assessment of the program.
(e)Family literacy programs operated under this section and other family literacy programs operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs shall be coordinated with family literacy programs for Indian children under subpart 2 of part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6641 et seq.] in order to avoid duplication and to encourage the dissemination of information on quality family literacy programs serving Indians.
(f)The Secretary shall, out of funds appropriated under subsection (g), include in the grants provided under subsection (a) amounts for administrative costs incurred by the tribe, tribal organization, or consortium of tribes in establishing and maintaining the early childhood development program.
(g)There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (e), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27. Subpart 2 of part B of title II of the Act is classified generally to subpart 2 (§ 6641 et seq.) of part B of subchapter II of chapter 70 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 6301 of Title 20 and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2019, Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1139, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 381, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4011, related to promulgation of

Regulations

, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–362, title VIII, § 801(c)(5), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3288. See section 2017 of this title. Another prior section 2019, Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1139, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2328; Pub. L. 100–297, title V, § 5117, Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 382; Pub. L. 100–427, § 1(c)(1), (2), Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1603; Pub. L. 101–301, § 5(a), May 24, 1990, 104 Stat. 207, defined terms used in this chapter, prior to the general amendment of this chapter by Pub. L. 103–382.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 114–95 substituted “subpart 2 of part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965” for “part B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 8, 2002, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 107–110, set out as a note under section 6301 of Title 20, Education.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 2019

Title 25Indians

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73