"We have to develop our regulations through negotiated rule making with tribal educators and tribal representatives from throughout the country. We're undergoing that process right now and our next meeting is in Seattle and we hope to be completed with the drafting of the proposed rule by the end of September."

Tribal educators are rising to a double challenge, meeting both federal and state requirements.

"They are responsible for the day to day operations and for complying with whatever federal rules that we have. So what they will have to do is look at how they test their students and they will generally follow whatever state guidelines there are. In managing that here from Washington we also have to be cognizant that there are probably 23 different ways that they measure progress for their students."

BIA funded schools serve nearly 48,000 students. The newest facility, the Baca Community School, opens later this month in Prewitt, New Mexico. Ron Tull, Interior Department Radio News Service.