April 1, 2026
The Office of Indian Education (OIE) is excited to share the Indigenous Family Special Education Comprehensive Guide and the full Mini-Guide Series are now complete and ready to share with tribal partners, districts, ESDs, and most importantly – our Native families.
You can read the entire article here: New Release: Indigenous Family Special Education Guides
These resources will help ensure Indigenous families have clear, culturally grounded, and legally accurate information about their students’ special education rights and services.
Included in the Indigenous Family Special Education Guides:
- Comprehensive Guide: The Journey to Ensure a Free and Appropriate Public Education for Students with Disabilities – A Guide for Indigenous Families
- Mini Guides: Each mini-guide connects directly to the comprehensive guide and follows relatable family stories; grounding technical information in real experiences and plain-language explanations.
- Mini Guide 1 – Getting Started with Special Education – Navigating the Special Education Referral Process
- Mini Guide 2 – Parent/Caregiver Rights in Special Education
- Mini Guide 3 – Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
- Mini Guide 4 – Discipline for Students in Special Education
- Mini Guide 5 – Seeking the Right Support: Understanding IEPs and 504 Plans
All of these guides can be accessed on the new OIE Special Education Guides webpage.