Bureau of Indian Affairs Southern Plains Regional Office National Budget Meeting – FY 2012 Education Budget Request

Education Tribes in the Southern Plains Region have made Education the number 1 priority. Tribes in the Southern Plains Region have made Education the number 1 priority. Programs contracted include Scholarships, JOM, Adult Education and Tribally Designed programs Programs contracted include Scholarships, JOM, Adult Education and Tribally Designed programs Critical for raising the quality of life for the first Americans Critical for raising the quality of life for the first Americans

Johnson O’Malley The largest & by far the most popular education program The largest & by far the most popular education program There are 31 JOM Contracts in the Southern Plains Region; Two directly operated by the OK Indian Education Office There are 31 JOM Contracts in the Southern Plains Region; Two directly operated by the OK Indian Education Office JOM provides school supplies & much needed tutoring to Indian Students JOM provides school supplies & much needed tutoring to Indian Students Approximately 32,000 served in 2009 Approximately 32,000 served in 2009

Issues Student count frozen in approximately 25,000 Student count frozen in approximately 25,000 There have been several attempts to eliminate JOM altogether There have been several attempts to eliminate JOM altogether Funding has steadily decreased Funding has steadily decreased In 1997 students were approximately $100 per student In 1997 students were approximately $100 per student Today, they are approximately $66 per student Today, they are approximately $66 per student

Issues Increased student counts & increased costs add to shortfall Increased student counts & increased costs add to shortfall At current funding levels, programs have to be very selective in what they purchase At current funding levels, programs have to be very selective in what they purchase Administrative costs incurred by contractors decreases amounts available for students Administrative costs incurred by contractors decreases amounts available for students

FY 2012 Recommendations  Reopen the student count to accurately reflect actual student population  Increase per student funding amount to $125

Scholarships  Probably the most underfunded and most critical of the education programs  Tribal Scholarships provide tribal members the opportunity to further education beyond High School level  Job Markets today are extremely competitive & often require more than a bachelor’s degree at the entry level

Scholarships Many tribes have no resources to support students beyond the under graduate level Many tribes have no resources to support students beyond the under graduate level Even with federal assistance, students still have a huge unmet need Even with federal assistance, students still have a huge unmet need Rising tuition costs + More students applying for Scholarships = Less $$ available per student Rising tuition costs + More students applying for Scholarships = Less $$ available per student Students forced to take out student loans Students forced to take out student loans Tribes cannot keep up with demand at present funding levels Tribes cannot keep up with demand at present funding levels

Funding Request TPA JOM TPA JOM FY 2009 JOM Enacted- $481,985 FY 2009 JOM Enacted- $481,985 FY 2012 JOM Request - $1,460,561 FY 2012 JOM Request - $1,460,561 TPA Scholarships: TPA Scholarships: FY 2009 Enacted- $2,667,209 FY 2009 Enacted- $2,667,209 FY 2012 Request- $4,000,814 FY 2012 Request- $4,000,814

Funding Request TPA Adult Education TPA Adult Education FY 2009 Enacted - $579,416 FY 2009 Enacted - $579,416 FY 2012 Request - $724,270 FY 2012 Request - $724,270

Thank you!