Due to the continued extraordinary
circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented
obstacles students, educators, and schools are facing during the
2020-2021 school year, the U.S. Department of Education (the
Department) is offering each State educational agency (SEA) the
opportunity to request waivers that will afford additional fiscal
flexibility for certain funds received under the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), pursuant to the
Department's authority under section 8401 of the ESEA.
Specifically, the Department is offering a waiver for an SEA to be
able to approve a local educational agency (LEA) to carry over more
than 15 percent of its fiscal year (FY) 2020 Title I, Part A funds
(i.e., the Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds
on October 1, 2021), even if the LEA has received a waiver from its
SEA to exceed this limitation for its FY 2018 or FY 2019 Title I,
Part A funds. Second, we are also offering flexibility to each SEA
to be able to extend for itself and its subgrantees the period of
availability of FY 2019 funds for programs included in the State’s
consolidated State plan to allow additional time to obligate those
funds.
As the end of the
current school year approaches and districts and schools continue
to plan for the 2021-2022 school year, knowing whether their SEA is
granted the invited waivers is essential to informing their
planning because it provides more certainty about the availability
of Federal funds for ESEA programs. Providing a streamlined process
for SEA waiver requests will speed the process for both the SEA and
the Department and help ensure State and local staff are able to
maintain focus on the pressing needs of students. Any additional
delay will have a negative impact on schools and students. In order
to reduce the burden on States, the Department has created an
optional template for States to collect the information required
under ESEA section 8401 to request waivers of certain fiscal
requirements. The optional template requests only information that
is required under ESEA section 8401. Given the short timeframe, the
Department is unable to consult with the public prior to issuing
the optional template, however the Department has ample experience
designing other similar forms in a way that is clear and minimizes
burden.
US Code:
20
USC 7861 Name of Law: Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.