Superintendent says U.S. Department of Education is ‘passing the baton’ to states; agency weighing EdFlex, grants and budget timing

Summary

Superintendent Hart told the school board the U.S. Department of Education is shifting responsibility to states, and agency staff are exploring the EdFlex option, targeted federal grants and preparing LEAs for uncertain budget timing; the state received an SLDS grant and recent federal allocations (GANs) were distributed.

Superintendent Hart told school board members the U.S. Department of Education is moving to shift operational responsibility for some federal programs to states, and staff are preparing schools and agency units for that change while exploring EdFlex and targeted grant opportunities.

Hart said the shift is not necessarily a change in law or in states’ responsibilities but an administrative change that “pass[es] the baton to the state.” She described meetings in Austin with the U.S. Department of Education and ongoing internal strategy sessions to interpret federal signals and prepare local education agencies (LEAs). “One takeaway that I really wanna share with the board is we have to remember that the the the aim of this is to pass the baton to the state,” Hart said.

The superintendent told members staff are considering EdFlex — a U.S. Department of Education option that can allow states flexibility in how federal funds are used — but cautioned it is not a blanket solution and contains exclusions. “It’s a funny…

Superintendent says U.S. Department of Education is ‘passing the baton’ to states; agency weighing EdFlex, grants and budget timing

Summary

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