Title VII provides funding for the education of American Indian/Alaska Native students based on a formula grant available to school districts, charter schools, and local education agencies (LEAs). According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, participation in the Title VII program has fluctuated in recent years in a number of states.

This report explores why some schools and districts have not been accessing federal Title VII funds for which they are eligible, potentially resulting in American Indian/Alaska Native students missing out on programs targeted to their needs.

The report, produced by the West Comprehensive Center at WestEd, presents results from analyses of recent public data and interviews with LEA representatives.

Key findings include:

  • Knowledge about the Title VII program was the primary difference between eligible LEAs that received Title VII funding versus eligible LEAs that did not receive this funding
  • Respondents from eligible-but-unfunded LEAs often held misconceptions about the Title VII program, particularly its eligibility requirements
  • A number of respondents from unfunded LEAs wanted to be sure that the effort needed to procure funds was worthwhile in terms of benefits to the students