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H.R. 9973House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 (II)

Sponsored by Melanie A. StansburyRep. Melanie A. Stansbury (D-NM)
Introduced July 27, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 31, 2026 at 5:21 AM UTC

The Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 updates how the federal government calculates and funds the Indian School Equalization Formula used for Bureau of Indian Education and tribal schools. It aims to ensure schools receive enough money to pay staff at rates comparable to other public schools, gives special consideration to small, rural, and tribal‑run schools, and adds an extra funding factor for Havasupai Elementary. The bill also requires annual reporting and a full‑funding request each year, adjusting for inflation and aligning salaries with other federal education programs.

Key Provisions

  • Within one year, the Secretary of the Interior must revise the Indian School Equalization Formula, using factors such as ensuring enough money to cover all staff salaries and matching the top‑quartile salaries of non‑BIE schools.
  • The revised formula must give extra weight to schools run by tribes, schools with fewer than 100 students, rural schools, and specifically add a 12.5 weighted student unit factor for Havasupai Elementary School.
  • The Secretary, together with the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and the BIE Director, must report to Congress on how well the formula and program meet school needs and suggest further improvements.
  • Each fiscal year, the Assistant Secretary must request full funding for the Indian School Equalization Program, basing the amount on the updated formula, recent advisory council reports, CPI adjustments, and must include fixed costs to match Department of Defense Education Activity salary schedules and give non‑teacher tribal school staff the same pay raises as other federal employees.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 27, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 27, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 27, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued July 27, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9973

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 27, 2026

Ms. Stansbury introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To improve the Indian School Equalization Formula and Indian School Equalization Program of the Bureau of Indian Education, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act of 2026 (II).

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Assistant Secretary

The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.

(2)

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).

(3)

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).

(4)

Indian Tribe

The term Indian Tribe means any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or other community included on the list published by the Secretary pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).

(5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Indian school equalization formula

(a)

Update

(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 update 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 schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education.

(B)

Average State-by-State salaries for school teachers, principals, other leadership positions, and all school staff at schools not operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, with consideration given to matching the highest quartile of those salaries.

(3)

Requirements

In updating the Indian School Equalization Formula under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A)

ensure the updated Indian School Equalization Formula provides sufficient funding to fully support salaries for all employees at a rate commensurate with paragraph (2)(B);

(B)

consider the weights or ratios related to—

(i)

schools controlled by Indian Tribes;

(ii)

schools with fewer than 100 students; and

(iii)

schools located in rural areas; and

(C)

ensure 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 successor regulations)).

(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 of Indian Education schools, shall submit to Congress a report describing—

(1)

the adequacy of the Indian School Equalization Formula and the Indian School Equalization Program in fulfilling the needs of Bureau of Indian Education schools and schools controlled by Indian Tribes; and

(2)

recommendations for increasing or modifying factors to improve the Indian School Equalization Formula.

4.

Establishing per-pupil parity for Indian students

(a)

Authority To request funding

Subject to subsection (b), not later than the first fiscal year beginning after the date on which the Indian School Equalization Formula is updated under section 4(a), and every fiscal year thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall ensure that the budget of the United States submitted by the President under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, requests full funding for the operation and maintenance of the Indian School Equalization Program.

(b)

Requirements

In determining the amount necessary for full funding for operation and maintenance for the Indian School Equalization Program under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary shall—

(1)

use the Indian School Equalization Formula updated under section 4(a);

(2)

consider and consult the most recent annual report to Congress of the National Advisory Council on Indian Education;

(3)

adjust the amount as necessary to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding November 30 in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor; and

(4)

include, as fixed costs—

(A)

funding increases to match the salary schedule of the Department of Defense Education Activity; and

(B)

pay increases for all non-teacher employees at schools controlled by Indian Tribes at the same rate as pay increases for Federal employees, as required under—

(i)

the Indian Self-Determination and Education Act (25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); and

(ii)

the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.).