[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9935 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9935
To improve the Indian School Equalization Formula of the Bureau of
Indian Education, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 23, 2026
Ms. Stansbury (for herself and Mr. Guest) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve the Indian School Equalization Formula of the Bureau of
Indian Education, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Indigenous Students Excel through
Parity Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are to study--
(1) the resources that Bureau-funded schools need to
provide competitive salaries and benefits to recruit and retain
high-quality teachers, administrators, and all school staff;
(2) funding and other resources needed by the Bureau of
Indian Education to ensure that students attending Bureau-
funded schools receive a high-quality education; and
(3) potential revenue sources to bring Bureau of Indian
Education funding, resources, and salaries into parity with
other school systems.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Assistant secretary.--The term ``Assistant Secretary''
means the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.
(2) Bureau-funded school.--The term ``Bureau-funded
school'' has the meaning given the term in section 1141 of the
Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2021).
(3) Indian school equalization formula.--The term ``Indian
School Equalization Formula'' means the Indian School
Equalization Formula described in subparts B and C of part 39
of title 25, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor
regulations).
(4) Indian school equalization program.--The term ``Indian
School Equalization Program'' means the Indian School
Equalization Program described in part 39 of title 25, Code of
Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).
(5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means any
Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village,
or other community included on the most recent list published
by the Secretary under section 104 of the Federally Recognized
Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(7) Tribally controlled school.--The term ``tribally
controlled school'' has the meaning given the term in section
5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C.
2511).
SEC. 4. INDIAN SCHOOL EQUALIZATION FORMULA STUDY.
(a) Study Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and in accordance with paragraph (3),
the Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and
the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, shall carry out
a study relating to updating the Indian School Equalization
Formula, including by completing the process of developing
alternative methods for the equitable distribution of the
Indian School Equalization Formula, with consideration given to
the factors described in paragraph (2).
(2) Factors described.--The factors referred to in
paragraph (1) are the following:
(A) Ensuring that the Indian School Equalization
Formula provides sufficient funding to adequately fund
Bureau-funded schools, including--
(i) schools operated by the Bureau of
Indian Education; and
(ii) tribally controlled schools.
(B) The highest rate of basic compensation, which
shall be equal to the higher of--
(i) the highest quartile or average State-
by-State salaries for school teachers,
principals, other leadership positions, and all
school staff at public schools that are not
Bureau-funded schools; and
(ii) the rate of basic compensation for
teacher and teaching positions in the
Department of Defense as determined under the
Defense Department Overseas Teachers Pay and
Personnel Practices Act (20 U.S.C. 901 et
seq.).
(3) Requirements.--In carrying out the study of the Indian
School Equalization Formula under paragraph (1), the Secretary
shall--
(A) ensure that an updated Indian School
Equalization Formula provides sufficient funding to
fully support salaries for school teachers, principals,
other leadership positions, and all school staff at a
rate commensurate with salaries of non-Bureau of Indian
Education teachers, principals, other leadership
positions, and all school staff described in clauses
(i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(B);
(B) consider the weights or ratios related to--
(i) tribally controlled schools;
(ii) schools with fewer than 100 students;
and
(iii) schools located in rural areas; and
(C) ensure that, in an updated Indian School
Equalization Formula, that Havasupai Elementary School
is awarded an additional cost factor of 12.5 Weighted
Student Unit (as defined in section 39.2 of title 25,
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation)).
(b) Report.--The Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant
Secretary and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, and in
consultation with national organizations representing Indian Tribes and
students attending Bureau-funded schools, shall submit to Congress and
make publicly available to Indian Tribes a report describing--
(1) the adequacy of the Indian School Equalization Formula
and the Indian School Equalization Program in fulfilling the
needs of Bureau-funded schools and tribally controlled schools;
and
(2) recommendations for increasing or modifying factors to
improve the Indian School Equalization Formula.
SEC. 5. STUDY OF REVENUE RESOURCES.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary and the
Director of the Bureau of Indian Education, shall carry out a study to
identify potential revenue sources to bring Bureau-funded schools into
parity with other schools.
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