Since the IEL Policy Exchange and the Center on Education Policy first
published this guidebook in 1997, it has become increasingly obvious that
many schools, school districts, and states do not have adequate information
about the flexibility in federal education laws and other federal laws affecting
schools. This guidebook is intended as a tool to help states, school districts,
and schools get the most from federal funding by making programs work better.
Since 1997, Congress and the Clinton Administration have given states,
school districts, and schools even greater flexibility. This 2000 guidebook
expands and updates the earlier edition, giving information about important
new flexibility initiatives, including:
- the recently enacted Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (Ed-Flex)
that potentially allows all states to waive many requirements of
federal education laws and regulations;
- the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998
that simplifies the administration of the school meal programs and
expands opportunities for schools to serve after-school snacks;
- the 1997 amendments to IDEA that allow schools to use IDEA funds in
Title I schoolwide programs and to coordinate social and health services
for students;
- new Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration grants that provide
seed money for schools to implement promising, research-based education
reform strategies; and
- the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 that allows the U.S. Secretary of
Labor to waive requirements of federal job-training programs and expands
the Work-Flex program so that potentially all states can waive
federal job-training requirements.
The first chapter of this guidebook discusses major federal programs that
support innovation and education reform: the Title I program for disadvantaged
students (including Title I schoolwide programs), using IDEA funds in
Title I schoolwide programs, the Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration
program, the Goals 2000 program, the Public Charter Schools program,
and provisions in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and
IDEA that allow school districts to use program funds to connect students
and their families to social and health services.
The second chapter explains how states, school districts, and schools can get waivers* from federal requirements in education, training, and child nutrition laws and regulations. It discusses the waiver provisions in, for example, ESEA, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, the Workforce Investment Act, and the National School Lunch Act. The chapter also describes how states and school districts are using education waivers.
Chapter three describes provisions to increase state and local administrative flexibility and reduce paperwork associated with federal programs. It explains flexibility in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that allows states and school districts to consolidate their plans or applications for multiple federal education programs, to consolidate administrative funds from several federal education programs, and to shift "unneeded funds" from one ESEA program to another. It also describes how Congress and the U.S. Department of Education have reduced testing requirements for the Title I program and increased flexibility for states and school districts administering certain grants from the U.S. Department of Education. Finally, the chapter discusses administrative flexibility in the school meal programs, such as provisions to simplify the process of certifying student eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.
Every chapter of this guide includes examples of how states, school districts, and individual schools are using flexibility provisions to improve student achievement. Each example is written as a short case study describing the state, school district, or school; what specific flexibility they are using; and how they are using the flexibility. A list of these examples follows the table of contents.
There are also four ready-reference tables. To Waive or Not to Waive? (on pages 30-31) summarizes which waiver authorities apply to which laws. Other tables outline major Elementary and Secondary Education Act programs, which federal programs can be included in consolidated plans, and which federal administrative funds can be consolidated. A list of these tables follows the table of contents.
To help readers, Appendix I provides Definitions of Terms Used in This Guidebook. Throughout the book, technical terms, acronyms, and jargon marked with asterisks (*) are defined in Appendix I.
Appendix II contains charts comparing the three general education waiver authorities.
Appendix III lists useful resources for those who wish to explore more fully the flexibility provisions in the federal laws covered in this guidebook. Appendix III also lists other publications of the IEL Policy Exchange and the Center on Education Policy.
For ordering information, please see our Publications page.
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