Indian education formula grants to leas

Rapid City Area School District 51-4 received a $632,293 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education under the Indian Education Grants to Local Educational Agencies program (CFDA 84.060) for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. This award supports comprehensive educational initiatives designed to address the unique cultural, language, and academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students enrolled in the district. The funding enables the school district to implement academic instruction, cultural programming, professional development for teachers, and targeted student support services that help Native American students meet challenging state academic standards while preserving their cultural heritage.

The district's grant-funded activities align with the program's core objectives and reflect the school district's documented commitment to serving its significant American Indian student population. As a longstanding recipient of federal education grants, Rapid City Area School District 51-4 will deploy these resources alongside other federal and state funding sources to support multi-faceted educational programs, including culturally responsive instruction, mental health services, and systemic academic supports. Per program requirements, the district is limited to administrative costs not exceeding 5% of the award and must maintain performance measures focused on student achievement in reading and math, high school graduation rates, and culturally responsive programming activities.