Indian Affairs: Further Actions on GAO Recommendations Needed to Address Systemic Management Challenges with Indian Education
Abstract
GAO has reported for several years on how systemic management challenges within the Department of the Interiors Office of the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs (Indian Affairs) continue to hamper efforts to improve Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. Over the past 10 years, Indian Affairs has undergone several organizational realignments, resulting in multiple offices across different units being responsible for BIE schools education and administrative functions. Indian Affairs fragmented organization has been compounded by frequent turnover in its leadership over a 13-year period and its lack of a strategic plan for BIE. Further, fragmentation and poor communication among Indian Affairs offices has led to confusion among schools about whom to contact about problems, as well as delays in the delivery of key educational services and supplies, such as textbooks. Key practices for organizational change suggest that agencies develop a results-oriented framework, such as a strategic plan, to clearly establish and communicate performance goals and measure their progress toward them. In 2013, GAO recommended that Interior develop a strategic plan for BIE and a strategy for communicating with schools, among other recommendations. Indian Affairs agreed with and reported taking some steps to address the two recommendations. However, it has not fully implemented them.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1176903
Entities
People
- Melissa Emrey-arras
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office