Lummis, Heinrich Lead Bipartisan Effort to Improve Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Tribal Schools

June 25, 2026

Washington, D.C.-Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Indigenous Students Excel Through Parity Act, bipartisan legislation to study and modernize the Bureau of Indian Education's Indian School Equalization Formula to ensure Bureau-funded schools have the resources needed to recruit and retain high-quality educators and provide Indigenous students with high-quality education.

"Tribal students across Wyoming deserve access to great teachers and educational opportunities, yet too many Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators because they cannot offer competitive pay," said Lummis. "Senator Heinrich's and my bill takes an important first step in understanding what it will take to create compensation parity, strengthen our education workforce, and ensure our Native American students have access to the high-quality education they deserve."

"Every student deserves the best possible education, and that is built on the strength of our educator workforce. Unfortunately, pay for educators at Bureau of Indian Education schools just hasn't kept pace. That's short-changing students across Indian Country, and it's completely unacceptable," said Heinrich. "Our Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act is the first step in fixing this issue - looking at how we can make educator pay more competitive, to help schools recruit and retain talented teachers and give students at BIE schools the high-quality education they deserve."

Many Bureau-funded schools face persistent challenges attracting and retaining teachers, principals, and other school staff due to compensation levels that often lag behind neighboring public school districts and other federal school systems. The current funding formula has not kept pace with these realities, creating barriers to educational opportunity for Indigenous students and staffing challenges for schools serving Tribal communities.

The Indigenous Students Excel Through Parity Act:

1. Directs the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Education, and Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs to conduct a comprehensive study of the Indian School Equalization Formula and develop recommendations for modernization.
2. Examines the resources needed to ensure Bureau-funded schools can recruit and retain teachers, principals, and school staff through competitive salaries and benefits.
3. Evaluates compensation levels against top-performing state school systems and Department of Defense schools to determine what is needed to achieve salary parity.
4. Reviews funding needs for both Bureau-operated and tribally-controlled schools, including considerations for small schools and schools located in rural and remote communities.
5. Requires consultation with Tribes and organizations representing Native students throughout the study process.
6. Directs the Department of the Interior to identify potential revenue sources and funding mechanisms to bring Bureau-funded schools into parity with other school systems.
7. Requires a public report to Congress and Tribal communities detailing findings and recommendations for improving educational opportunities for Native students.

Full bill text can be found here.