The 1972 Indian Education Act was the landmark legislation establishing a comprehensive approach to meeting the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students. The legislation is unique in the following ways:

1. It recognizes that American Indians have unique, educational and culturally related academic needs and distinct language and cultural needs;

2. It is the only comprehensive Federal Indian Education legislation, that deals with American Indian education from pre-school to graduate-level education and reflects the diversity of government involvement in Indian education;

3. It focuses national attention on the educational needs of American Indian learners, reaffirming the Federal government’s special responsibility related to the education of American Indians and Alaska Natives; and

4. It provides services to American Indians and Alaska Natives that are not provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.