Indian education formula grants to leas

Cass Lake Bena Schools received a $297,039 Indian Education Formula Grant to Local Educational Agencies (CFDA 84.060) from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This formula grant supports comprehensive educational programs designed to address the unique cultural, language, and academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students in the Cass Lake, Minnesota school district, which serves a community with a significant Native American population.

The funding supports academic instruction, cultural programming, teacher professional development, and targeted student support services that enable AIAN students to meet challenging state academic standards while preserving their cultural heritage. Permissible uses of the grant funds include general instruction, special education, English language learning, career and technical education, teacher training, and technology integration. The district must limit administrative costs to 5% of the award and maintain performance measures focused on student achievement in reading and mathematics, high school graduation rates, and culturally responsive activities.