U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced today the state of Maryland has received Education Flexibility (ED-Flex) Partnership authority from the U.S. Department of Education. Previously a "demonstration state" for the Ed-Flex program, Maryland now has the authority to waive certain federal requirements as a way to improve schools.

"This program gives states the latitude they need to use our grants and programs the best way they see fit," Paige said. "I'm sure Maryland, like most states, will use their flexibility to help improve teaching and learning in the classrooms."

With Ed-Flex authority, some states have generated waivers to allow more flexible use of federal teacher-training funds so that districts can better direct professional development dollars to those areas where they are needed most. Schools in other states have lowered teacher/student rations or provided one-on-one reading tutoring under Ed-Flex waivers.

To qualify for Ed-Flex, states must hold children in schools that receive Title I funds to the same academic standards as children in other schools in the state. Title I is the $8.6 billion federal K-12 education program aimed at improving academic achievement among disadvantaged children.

States must also be ready to administer assessments aligned to challenging academic standards that measure student performance in at least math and reading. The assessments must include all students in schools that receive Title I funds, including those with disabilities and with limited English proficiency. The assessments must measure student performance at least three times, including once in elementary, middle and high school.

States that seek Ed-Flex authority also must show they can waive state education requirements that limit flexibility to improve schools. In addition, waivers must be tracked to ensure they improve student performance and must be revoked if they fail to do so.

The waivers apply to requirements under sections of the Elementary and Secondary Act and the Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. Civil rights and Individuals with -Disabilities Act requirements cannot be waived, nor can waivers be used to undermine the purpose of a program.

Ed-Flex originally was authorized as a demonstration program in 1994. Under the demonstration program, 12 states (Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Vermont) were granted Ed-Flex authority for five years.

The Ed-Flex Partnership Act of 1999 expanded the program and allowed any state that meets new eligibility criteria to receive waiver authority. To date, 10 states have been granted the authority – Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, and Maryland.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information, contact, Ronald E. Friend, director, Office of Comprehensive Planning and School Support, Maryland Department of Education, (410) 767-0278.

###

Top

Back to January 2002