Roll Call - August 28, 2026

A student at Rocky Ridge Boarding School in Kykotsmovi, Arizona, makes his way through the lunch line.

Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, New Mexico, recently broke ground on its new Indigenous STEAM Facility. The ceremony marked an important moment in the school’s 35‑year history and reflected its mission of preparing Diné students to be leaders both now and in the future. The new building will expand space for Navajo Prep’s International Baccalaureate program and career‑focused learning pathways.

During the celebration, Head of School Shawna Allison Becenti shared that the facility would honor traditional teachings while opening doors to modern innovation. The design includes dedicated rooms for Diné material arts, visual arts, film, music, and design technology, along with a makerspace and a state‑of‑the‑art auditorium.

The groundbreaking underscored Navajo Prep’s 35th anniversary theme, “35 Years of Culture, Leadership, and Innovation,” and celebrated the school’s continued commitment to creating learning spaces grounded in Diné identity, academic rigor, and student opportunity. The Indigenous STEAM Facility will serve as a place where students can create, design, perform, and innovate!

Two outstanding Richfield Residential Hall students, Mihkayla and LaDannon, were selected as Chief Manuelito Scholarship recipients — one of the most prestigious academic honors awarded to Navajo students. This achievement reflected their dedication, determination, and hard work both inside and outside the classroom.

The Chief Manuelito Scholarship is awarded only to students who demonstrate exceptional academic excellence and a strong commitment to cultural learning. Richfield Residential Hall staff celebrated both students for the effort, perseverance, and leadership they displayed throughout their educational journey.

Santa Fe Indian School proudly celebrated a major milestone for two graduates from the Class of 2026. Raekwon and Danika participated in the “What’s the Story? The Young Filmmakers Social Action Team,” where they produced documentary films as part of their Senior Honors Projects. Both students — joined by their instructor, Mr. Martinez — traveled to Middlebury, Vermont, to present their films and collaborate with peers from Vermont, New York, South Carolina, and Colombia.

Raekwon’s documentary, “Why Weight for Later,” explored the effects of obesity within the Pueblo of Jemez, addressing a topic closely connected to both personal experience and community wellness. Danika’s film, “Never a Number,” examined the pressures and stress many high school students face, especially those who may appear outwardly successful but feel uncertain or overwhelmed internally.

Santa Fe Indian School proudly recognized these students for continuing to pursue and elevate their work! Their creativity, voice, and commitment demonstrate the strength of SFIS’s academic and cultural programs.

Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, officially welcomed new and returning students to campus with a strong start to its move‑in and orientation activities. Students arrived ready to settle into their residence halls, meet campus staff, and begin building connections that will support them throughout their academic journey.

Orientation events kicked off with energy and enthusiasm, offering students opportunities to learn about campus resources, meet their support teams, and connect with fellow Haskell students. These sessions were designed to help students navigate academic expectations, student services, cultural programming, and campus life.

With move‑in complete and orientation underway, Haskell Indian Nations University celebrated the beginning of a new chapter for all incoming and returning students!

As we gear up for a new school year, we’re looking for back‑to‑school content to feature in the BIE Weekly. Please share the moments, projects, and events that help kick off your year on a strong note!

We’d love to highlight:

• First‑day photos and welcome‑back activities
• Classroom setups, bulletin boards, and creative learning spaces
• Any 250th‑related projects or commemorations planned for the fall
• Back‑to‑school nights, community events, or cultural celebrations
• Student art, writing, or videos that reflect the excitement of a new year

Your contributions help us showcase the incredible work happening across our schools. Please send in your content so we can celebrate and share your stories!

Please include a brief description with each photo and ensure students pictured have the appropriate media release on file. Your stories help keep our communities connected and inspired!

The Bureau of Indian Education Navajo Region, in partnership with the Diné Bi Olta School Board Association, recently held a leadership and school board work session for principals and board members from Bureau Operated Schools at Wingate High School in Ft Wingate, New Mexico. The gathering brought school leaders together for meaningful learning and collaboration.

The two‑day session focused on BIE’s Strategic Direction priorities — Cultural Identity, Student Wellness, and Student Success. Participants explored their roles and responsibilities, discussed the importance of civility in school governance, and learned strategies to strengthen communication and cooperation among school leaders, families, and community members.

Attendees responded positively, sharing ideas and developing strategies for connecting schools with local communities. School board members emphasized their vital role as bridges for student success, leaving the session with a deeper understanding of how unified leadership can support strong school environments across the Navajo Region.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) will conduct two Tribal Consultations on the Interagency Implementation of ED’s Fiscal Year 2027 Grantmaking Priorities and Fiscal Year 2028 Budget Priorities in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). On Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET, the Departments will consult on ED’s FY 2027 grantmaking priorities. On Friday, August 28, 2026, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. ET, the Departments will consult on ED’s FY 2028 Budget Request to the President.

The purpose of these consultations is to receive meaningful input from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities to ensure that Tribal leader views inform the implementation of both topics within the current interagency framework. Each Department remains committed to upholding the federal trust responsibility as set forth in the Constitution of the United States, Treaties, Executive Orders, and decisions of the U.S. Courts. Both consultations will be conducted by the Office of Indian Education (OIE) and facilitated by the Tribal Consultation Official for ED.

The BIE Chief Academic Office is sharing three new guidance documents focusing on personal wireless devices and artificial intelligence.

Please note that these documents are being provided strictly as guidance, not as mandatory policy. You have complete flexibility to use these documents in their entirety, adopt specific portions that fit your school, or not use them at all based on the unique needs of your community.

• The first document outlines a vision for personal wireless devices to reduce digital distractions and support student mental health.
• The second document provides a framework for staff to use artificial intelligence safely while protecting student data and Tribal sovereignty.
• The third document guides student artificial intelligence use to ensure it remains a supportive tool rather than a replacement for active learning.

Linked above are the complete texts for each framework along with a short video providing a high-level overview of the contents.

Please reach out via email to biecao@bie.edu if you have any questions or need support discussing how these concepts might look on your campus.

The Division of Performance and Accountability is beginning the 2026–2027 school year with McKinney-Vento professional development opportunities. Each session is designed for different school staff who play an important role in identifying and supporting students experiencing homelessness. Whether staff are new to McKinney-Vento or would benefit from a refresher, these opportunities are intended to strengthen BIE's collective efforts to identify, connect, and support students experiencing homelessness.

Join the BIE NASIS team for an enriching in‑person Native American Student Information System training designed to strengthen user skills and expand confidence with NASIS tools. Whether you choose the Premium path — covering areas like Online Registration, Campus Learning Suite, Workflow, Voice Messenger 2.0, and the Insights Dashboard — or the General NASIS track with essentials such as User Security, Census, Attendance, Scheduling, Course Setup, and Data Validation Reports, each session empowers participants to better support their schools.

NASIS System Administrators, Registrars, School Counselors, Education Specialists, and School Administrators are encouraged to register for one of the upcoming sessions in Blaine, MN (September 15–17), or Albuquerque, NM (November 17–19).

Reach out to Ask-NASIS@bie.edu with any questions.

Join the BIE School Operations Division Finance Team for a series of virtual lunchtime trainings on best practices for school financial professionals. Topics are wide-ranging, from inventory logs and submitting UDO certifications to year-end memos and researching transactions. These sessions will take place on Thursdays from July 2026 through April 2027.

Supporting schools with their new resource, the Strategic Transformation of Education initiative launched a Monthly School Website Help Desk on the second Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. EST. The one-hour call features a short training topic, such as a new feature, content strategy, or FAQs, followed by an open session for problem-solving and answering questions.