Board briefed on federal waiver option for spring accountability and participation thresholds

Department staff briefed the board on a federal waiver opportunity that would allow the state to lower participation requirements for spring assessments and to waive certain accountability consequences for one year.

Miss Martin and Superintendent Mackey explained the U.S. Department of Education is offering a waiver template and that the department would notify the governor and publish a draft waiver for 30 days of public comment. Under the federal template states may propose a lower participation rate than the usual 95% (technical advisors suggested the department needs about 70% participation to produce valid baselines and subgroup measures). The waiver can also allow states to waive public report card requirements and indicators tied to federal accountability for the waiver year; a parallel state resolution filed in the legislature would request omission of the state’s “failing schools” list for one year.

Staff said waivers are not all‑encompassing and that the state must promise to restore full accountability in 2022; the waiver process also gives the department flexibility to adjust targets. Staff said the department will post the draft waiver for a 30‑day public comment period before submission.

Why it matters: the waiver affects how school performance is reported and used for improvement or sanctions; it also shapes whether districts are judged and how recovery targets are set with spring assessment data.