Application for the Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex) Program

This is a request for a revision to the Educational Flexibility program application to include the annual reporting template. The Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex) program is authorized under the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 and was reauthorized by section 9207 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The Ed-Flex program allows the Secretary to authorize a State educational agency (SEA) that serves an eligible State to waive statutory or regulatory requirements applicable to one or more the included programs for any local educational agency (LEAs), educational service agency, or school within the State. Section 4(a)(3) of the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 requires each SEA desiring to participate in the education flexibility program to submit an application detailing that SEAs education flexibility plan. Section 4(a)(5)(B) requires each SEA that is authorized to become an Ed-Flex Partnership State to submit an annual report on the results of its oversight and the impact of the waivers on school and student performance. Previously, the annual reporting requirement instructions and burden hours were included as part of the application. In order to standardize reporting, we have created an annual reporting template and are increasing the burden hours related to the annual reporting based on feedback from the field. However, overall, there is a decrease in burden due to a change in the estimated number of responses based on past experience with the program.

The latest form for Application for the Educational Flexibility (Ed-Flex) Program expires 2027-03-31 and is listed under ICR 202310-1810-003.