The Assistant Secretary for Education discusses in this speech what the Federal Government, under the auspices of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, has done and is doing to meet the special educational needs of American Indians in the United States. The Office of Education has been given broad new authority and commands by the Congress and the Administration to help meet the needs of Indian children, both on and off the reservation. Grants for needs assessment and planning in the areas of education and community college opportunities for Indians are expected to be funded in 1973. Among the major educational target areas for this year are preschool programs, bicultural education, English language communication, and skill school equivalency training for adults. (FF)