Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Office of Indian Education (OIE): State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) Grant Program; Assistance Listing Number 84.415A
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- ED-GRANTS-042726-003
- Agency
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Department of Education
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
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- Education
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Linda Brake linda.brake@ed.gov (202) 987-0796
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, administered through the Bureau of Indian Education, is soliciting applications to support the State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) program, which promotes Tribal self-determination in education and improves academic achievement of Indian students through coordination between Tribal Educational Agencies (TEAs), State Educational Agencies (SEAs), and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Eligible applicants include federally-recognized Indian Tribes (excluding those receiving Bureau of Indian Education funds under section 1140), Tribal organizations, TEAs, and consortia of eligible applicants. Key objectives require applicants to develop draft written agreements with SEA and/or LEA partners, hire a project director within 60 days of award, and submit a final written agreement within 120 days. Applications will be evaluated on three criteria: quality of project design (30 points), adequacy of resources (20 points), and quality of management plan (50 points). The application deadline is June 11, 2026, with intergovernmental review due August 11, 2026, and approval expected approximately two months following the application deadline.
The estimated total funding available is $2,000,000, with individual awards ranging from $300,000 to $500,000, supporting an estimated 4-7 grants. Project periods extend up to 36 months for initiatives creating a new TEA (Absolute Priority 1) and up to 60 months for projects expanding capacity of early TEAs (Absolute Priority 2). No cost sharing or matching funds are required, though supplement-not-supplant requirements apply. Performance will be measured through key metrics including the number of Tribes creating TEAs, capacity-building activities conducted, and education programs directly administered by grantees. Projects will be performed at applicant locations and serve Tribal communities throughout the United States.
Synopsis
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.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 84.415A STEP FY2026 Grants.Gov Application Notice and Instructions (ANI).pdf |
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