Background: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe's Education Department was awarded the "State Tribal Education Partnership" grant from the U.S. Department of Education in October 2015. STEP is a four-year grant that will conclude in September 2019.

Purpose: Promote increased collaboration between the sovereign nation of The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), and public schools on the Flathead Reservation.