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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§7704 Policies and Procedures Relating to Children Residing on Indian Lands

Title 20 › CHAPTER 70 — STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › SUBCHAPTER VII — IMPACT AID › § 7704

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

School districts that count children living on Indian lands to get federal funds must make and follow rules that do several things. They must let those children join programs equally with other students. They must give parents and the tribe chances to share their views, help plan programs, and make recommendations about the students’ needs. The district must share relevant applications, evaluations, and plans with parents and tribes. The district must keep records that show it is doing all of this. If a tribe sends a written statement saying it is satisfied with the district’s services, the district does not have to follow these rules for that tribe for that fiscal year. The Secretary of Education must help districts, parents, and tribes follow these rules and can enforce them, including withholding funds when needed, after giving people a chance to be heard. A tribe or its chosen representative may file a written complaint with the Secretary. Within 10 working days the Secretary must set a nearby time and place for a hearing, pick a hearing examiner, and notify the parties. The hearing must happen within 30 days, be open to the public, and have a record. Each side may present evidence and pay its own costs. The examiner must send written findings and recommendations within 30 days after the hearing. The Secretary has 30 days to make a final written decision about any remedies, timelines, and reasons, and must give copies to the tribe and the district. The Secretary can combine related complaints. If a district refuses the Secretary’s decision or fails to act and an extension won’t work, the Secretary must withhold all eligible funds until the remedy is done, unless the complaining tribe asks the funds to be released, and unless withholding would badly disrupt the school year. If a tribe removes students to have the Bureau of Indian Education provide services but some students stay, those students can still be counted for funding and funds will not be withheld for them. This law is based on the special relationship between Indian nations and the United States and does not remove state responsibilities for citizens.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §7704

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
A local educational agency that claims children residing on Indian lands for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title shall establish policies and procedures to ensure that—
(1)such children participate in programs and activities supported by such funds on an equal basis with all other children;
(2)parents of such children and Indian tribes are afforded an opportunity to present their views on such programs and activities, including an opportunity to make recommendations on the needs of those children and how the local educational agency may help such children realize the benefits of such programs and activities;
(3)parents and Indian tribes are consulted and involved in planning and developing such programs and activities;
(4)relevant applications, evaluations, and program plans are disseminated to the parents and Indian tribes; and
(5)parents and Indian tribes are afforded an opportunity to present their views to such agency regarding such agency’s general educational program.
(b)Records
A local educational agency that claims children residing on Indian lands for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title shall maintain records demonstrating such agency’s compliance with the requirements contained in subsection (a).
(c)Waiver
A local educational agency that claims children residing on Indian lands for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title shall not be required to comply with the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) for any fiscal year with respect to any Indian tribe from which such agency has received a written statement that the agency need not comply with those subsections because the tribe is satisfied with the provision of educational services by such agency to such children.
(d)Technical assistance and enforcement
The Secretary shall—
(1)provide technical assistance to local educational agencies, parents, and Indian tribes to enable such agencies, parents, and tribes to carry out this section; and
(2)enforce this section through such actions, which may include the withholding of funds, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, after affording the affected local educational agency, parents, and Indian tribe an opportunity to present their views.
(e)Complaints
(1)In general
(A)Any tribe, or its designee, which has students in attendance at a local educational agency may, in its discretion and without regard to the requirements of any other provision of law, file a written complaint with the Secretary regarding any action of a local educational agency taken pursuant to, or relevant to, the requirements of this section.
(B)Within ten working days from receipt of a complaint, the Secretary shall—
(i)designate a time and place for a hearing into the matters relating to the complaint at a location in close proximity to the local educational agency involved, or if the Secretary determines there is good cause, at some other location convenient to both the tribe, or its designee, and the local educational agency;
(ii)designate a hearing examiner to conduct the hearing; and
(iii)notify the affected tribe or tribes and the local educational agency involved of the time, place, and nature of the hearing and send copies of the complaint to the local educational agency and the affected tribe or tribes.
(2)Hearing
The hearing shall be held within 30 days of the designation of a hearing examiner and shall be open to the public. A record of the proceedings shall be established and maintained.
(3)Evidence; recommendations; cost
The complaining tribe, or its designee, and the local educational agency shall be entitled to present evidence on matters relevant to the complaint and to make recommendations concerning the appropriate remedial actions. Each party to the hearing shall bear only its own costs in the proceedings.
(4)Findings and recommendations
Within 30 days of the completion of the hearing, the hearing examiner shall, on the basis of the record, make written findings of fact and recommendations concerning appropriate remedial action, if any, which should be taken. The hearing examiner’s findings and recommendations, along with the hearing record, shall be forwarded to the Secretary.
(5)Written determination
Within 30 days of the Secretary’s receipt of the findings, recommendations, and record, the Secretary shall, on the basis of the record, make a written determination of the appropriate remedial action, if any, to be taken by the local educational agency, the schedule for completion of the remedial action, and the reasons for the Secretary’s decision.
(6)Copies provided
Upon completion of the Secretary’s final determination, the Secretary shall provide the complaining tribe, or its designee, and the local educational agency with copies of the hearing record, the hearing examiner’s findings and recommendations, and the Secretary’s final determination. The final determination of the Secretary shall be subject to judicial review.
(7)Consolidation
In all actions under this subsection, the Secretary shall have discretion to consolidate complaints involving the same tribe or local educational agency.
(8)Withholding
If the local educational agency rejects the determination of the Secretary, or if the remedy required is not undertaken within the time established and the Secretary determines that an extension of the time established will not effectively encourage the remedy required, the Secretary shall withhold payment of all moneys to which such local agency is eligible under section 7703 of this title until such time as the remedy required is undertaken, except where the complaining tribe or its designee formally requests that such funds be released to the local educational agency, except that the Secretary may not withhold such moneys during the course of the school year if the Secretary determines that such withholding would substantially disrupt the educational programs of the local educational agency.
(9)Rejection of determination
If the local educational agency rejects the determination of the Secretary and a tribe exercises the option under section 1101(d) of the Education Amendments of 1978, to have education services provided either directly by the Bureau of Indian Education or by contract with the Bureau of Indian Education, any Indian students affiliated with that tribe who wish to remain in attendance at the local educational agency against whom the complaint which led to the tribal action under such subsection (d) was lodged may be counted with respect to that local educational agency for the purpose of receiving funds under section 7703 of this title. In such event, funds under such section shall not be withheld pursuant to paragraph (8) and no further complaints with respect to such students may be filed under paragraph (1).
(f)Construction
This section is based upon the special relationship between the Indian nations and the United States and nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve any State of any duty with respect to any citizens of that State.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 1101(d) of the Education

Amendments

of 1978, referred to in subsec. (e)(9), is section 1101(d) of Pub. L. 95–561, Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2315, set out below.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–95, § 7001(d)(2), made technical

Amendments

to references in original act which appear in text as references to section 7703 of this title. Subsec. (e)(9). Pub. L. 114–95, § 7005, substituted “Indian Education” for “Indian Affairs” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, and effective with respect to appropriations for use under this subchapter beginning fiscal year 2017, except as otherwise provided in such amendment, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title. Contract Authority of Indian Tribes if Remedial Action Is Not Taken; Election To Have Services Provided by Bureau Schools; Special

Regulations

Pub. L. 95–561, title XI, § 1101(d), Nov. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 2315, directed Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in cooperation with Commissioner of Education, within one year of Nov. 1, 1978, to promulgate special

Regulations

which would provide that where a local educational agency had not undertaken the remedial action required by the Commissioner under 20 U.S.C. 240(b)(3)(C)(vi), the affected tribes could elect for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide educational services provided by the local educational agency.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 7704

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110