Call to Action: Notice of Public Meeting of the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children

The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) announced that the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children will hold a two-day in-person and online meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to advise the Secretary of the Interior on the needs of Indian children with disabilities. All meetings, including virtual sessions, are open to the public. The BIE Advisory Board meeting will be held Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT and Friday, September 26, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., EDT. 

The onsite meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. To attend virtually, participants may register via zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Public comments can be emailed to [email protected]; faxed to (602) 265-0293, Attention: Jennifer Davis, DFO; or mailed or hand delivered to the Bureau of Indian Education, Attention: Jennifer Davis, DFO, 2600 N Central Ave., 12th Floor, Suite 250, Phoenix, AZ 85004. 

The following agenda items will be discussed at the meetings: 

• Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Central Office—Updates and Changes. 

• The BIE's Special Education Program—Updates and Changes. 

• Panel Discussion with current BIE funded School Superintendents, Administrators, and Principals—focusing on how their work aligns with the needs of Native students with disabilities. 

• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Funded Technical Assistance Centers (Part D)—focusing on how their work aligns with the needs of Native students with disabilities. Provides an overview of their work, current challenges, recent achievements, recommendations regarding students with disabilities, and major changes that have occurred that affect the work and partnerships. 

• BIE Education Specialists (special education) representing Bureau Operated Schools and Tribally Controlled Schools—focusing on how their work aligns with the needs of native students with disabilities. Provides an overview of their work, current challenges, recent achievements, and recommendations regarding students with disabilities. 

• Advisory Board Work Session: finalize the FY 2024 annual report; address the next meeting logistics; discuss next steps; provide recommendations for future projects or meetings; wrap-up important decisions; discuss outstanding tasks; and share working folders with board members for future meetings. 

• Public Commenting Sessions will be provided during the Open Dialogue sessions and Board Work sessions, Thursday, September 25, 2025, and Friday, September 26, 2025. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Davis, Designated Federal Officer, Bureau of Indian Education, 2600 N Central Ave., 12th Floor, Suite 250, Phoenix, AZ 85004, [email protected], or mobile phone (202) 860-7845.