On-site visits and surveys of parents and students, as well as tribal, education, and government officials were utilized to gather information regarding selected Indian education programs and practices in Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. Many local and federally funded programs existed to provide Indian students with a bilingual/bicultural atmosphere and aid in the mastery of basic skills. Bilingual programs were particularly numerous, but basic skills programs were less so. Although Indian education curriculum development varied greatly from state to state and locality to locality, many school districts made concerted efforts to provide counseling, tutoring, and retention programs to help Indian students. Indians, however, felt that Indian-operated programs and schools were more responsive than public schools to the needs of Indian children. Indians supported alternative programs (usually federally funded) such as alternative K-12 schools, experimental "demonstration" school models, BIA contract schools, and adult basic education programs. Indian preference for teacher hiring was rare in school districts with many Indian children and active recruitment was infrequent. Cross-cultural training was suggested for non-Indian teachers. Parental and community involvement in Indian education programs was emphasized by many school districts and states. Other results concerned needs assessments, textbook selection, and higher education. (SB)