The Bureau of Indian Education can’t effectively track and address school facility problems because of poor data collection and quality controls, the Government Accountability Office has found.
In its report, the GAO details how staff cuts, limited institutional knowledge, lack of consistent oversight on construction projects, and poor communication also hinder the BIE’s ability to maintain facilities and provide technical assistance to schools.
As part of the investigation, GAO staff members visited BIE schools in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and South Dakota that reported facing challenges with the quality of new construction, limited funding, remote locations, and aging buildings and infrastructure. Several issues date back nearly two decades.
