Estimated per-pupil expenditures vary widely among different types of BIA schools, such as boarding schools and day schools, and are higher than per-pupil expenditures at public schools. Academic Performance of Many BIA Students is Below That of Public School Students

In school year 1999–2000, BIA students scored far below public school students on state assessments in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arizona—three states with large numbers of BIA schools. In addition, BIA students score significantly below national averages on college admission tests. While nearly all teachers at BIA schools were certified, officials at some schools we visited, particularly tribally operated schools, recounted some difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified staff. While computers and the Internet are generally available at BIA schools, a smaller proportion of the schools have paid (versus volunteer) technology support staff than public schools. BIA’s infrastructure also includes dormitory facilities for boarding students and housing for staff and their families. The DOD School System

DOD students’ academic achievement generally exceeds that of elementary and secondary students as measured by national standardized tests. DOD school administrators indicated that nearly all teachers in DOD schools are certified in the subjects or grades they teach, and the majority of teachers hold advanced degrees—this proportion is greater than the national average for public school teachers. A high proportion of DOD students take college admissions tests, scoring at or near national averages. DOD Teachers Are Certified and Most Have Advanced Degrees

Administrators responding to our survey indicated that virtually all teachers in DOD schools are certified in the subjects or grades they teach, both in domestic and overseas schools. Technology Access and Support Reported by DOD Schools is on Average Greater Than Public Schools

Based on the responses of DOD school officials to our survey, DOD students appear to have greater access to computers, including computers connected to the Internet, than do public school students nationwide. Administrators Report Some Problems With DOD School Facilities

Many DOD school administrators responding to our survey reported problems with their school facilities but, for the most part, their responses were not substantially different from those reported nationally by public school administrators in 1999.
What GAO Found

Unlike public schools, the schools run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) depend almost entirely on federal funds. Although the two school systems are similar in that regard, their histories and settings are very different. The performance of many BIA students on standardized tests and other academic measures is far below that of public school students. BIA students also score considerably below the national average on college admission tests. Nearly all BIA teachers are fully certified for the subjects or grade levels they teach, although BIA officials said that some schools have great difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified staff. BIA schools report that they have greater access to computers and the Internet than do public schools, but the technical support available to maintain the computers and help teachers use technology in the classroom is more limited. Many school administrators reported problems with school facilities. Estimated per-pupil expenditures at BIA schools varied widely by school type, such as day or boarding school, but are generally higher than for public schools nationally. The academic performance of DOD students generally exceeds that of elementary and secondary students nationwide. On college admission tests, DOD students perform at or near the national average. Nearly all DOD teachers are fully certified for the subjects or grade levels they teach, and about two-thirds have advanced degrees. Access to computers and the Internet is better than at public schools, and nearly all DOD administrators said that technical support is available in their schools. Many DOD administrators reported problems with their school facilities, but the overall condition of their buildings did not differ greatly from that reported by public schools in 1999. Estimated per-pupil expenditures at DOD schools overseas were higher than those for U.S. schools, mainly because of the costs involved in moving and housing teachers and staff overseas.