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The Administration has long supported the concept of expanding ed-flex
demonstration authority to permit all States to waive certain statutory and
regulatory requirements of Federal education programs in a manner that will
promote high standards and accountability for results, coupled with
increased flexibility for States and local school districts to achieve
those results. The Administration supports amendments designed to: (1)
ensure that State waivers of Federal requirements result in improved
student achievement; and (2) enhance parental involvement.
In order to ensure consistency between ed-flex authority and the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), which will be undergoing
reauthorization this year, the Administration urges Congress to sunset this
legislation upon enactment of the ESEA.
The Administration strongly supports an amendment that is expected to be
offered to S. 280 that would implement the President's proposal for a
long-term extension of the one-year authority to help school districts
reduce class size in the early grades, which the Congress approved last
year on a bipartisan basis. In order to hire qualified teachers, arrange
for additional classrooms, and take other steps that are necessary to
reduce class size, school districts need to know, as soon as possible, that
the Congress intends to support this initiative for more than one year.
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