Most Native Americans recognize that the key to self-sufficiency is having a skilled and educated populace. Historically, however, accomplishing this goal has challenged Native Americans, who have the highest school dropout rate of any ethnic group in the United States. In some communities as many as 60 percent of Native American children leave school before graduating from high school. Many tribes are working to reverse these numbers. To accomplish this, tribal governments are taking control over the schools on their reservations and, in the process, creating educational systems that match the community's needs.

The School System

Like other services on Indian reservations, schools and educational activities are overseen by the federal government. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, therefore, is the federal agency responsible for educating Native American children who live on reservations. The BIA sets the academic standards for the schools and provides money for teachers' salaries and for...