SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

BIE is working on reopening schools for safe delivery of in-person and hybrid instruction based on the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control and invites stakeholders to provide input regarding additional needs and resources to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students at BIE schools. Among the items BIE is specifically considering as it undertakes reopening schools are:

• What is needed to ensure student safety when using commercial transportation services before students travel to a residential facility and when they travel home?
• Would you recommend that students be vaccinated before arriving on campus if vaccinations are available?
• What are your recommendations to serve students that plan to attend residential facilities and post-secondary institutions from communities with high rates of COVID-19?
• Are there any recommendations for grades K-12 and residential facilities not already addressed by ED and CDC reopening guidance that requires additional clarification or guidance by BIE?

BIE-operated schools include three categories, each of which BIE will plan for separately:

1. Schools serving grades K-12;

2. BIE residential facilities; and

3. Post-secondary institutions (specifically, Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI)).

The intended purpose of this stakeholder engagement is to ensure that BIE is meeting the needs of its students, schools, and Tribal communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic recovery. BIE has invited Tribes to Tribal consultation sessions by letter.

Public webinar sessions are scheduled for:

K-12 and Residential Facilities

May 10, 2021

4 p.m.—5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

Please register in advance for this meeting at: https://www.zoomgov.com/​meeting/​register/​vJItfuqorzguH3fGaQXG26Nbu4mFiy4IJ_​Q

Post-Secondary Institutions

May 11, 2021

4 p.m.-5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

Please register in advance for this meeting at: https://www.zoomgov.com/​meeting/​register/​vJItcOCtpzgvHT5ZmlDobA8nzJlx9jJgEhw

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the session. Each day of public sessions will be preceded by a Tribal consultation session from 3 p.m.-4 p.m. ET. Tribes have been invited by letter to the Tribal consultation sessions.

86 FR 20403