[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46796-46799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21616]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Waivers Granted Under Section 8401 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended by the Every Student 
Succeeds Act

AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of 
Education.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, we announce the waivers that the U.S. 
Department of Education (Department) granted during calendar year 2016 
under the waiver authority in section 8401 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student 
Succeeds Act.\1\
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    \1\ On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), 
which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (ESEA), was signed into law. The ESEA waiver provisions in 
section 8401 of the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, went into effect 
on that date. However, the Department awarded and administered FY 
2016 formula grant funds in accordance with the ESEA as in effect on 
the day before the date of enactment of the ESSA (i.e., the 
requirements promulgated under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 
(NCLB)) consistent with clarification from Congress in the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016. Accordingly, unless otherwise 
noted, all references to the ESEA in this notice refer to the ESEA, 
as amended by NCLB.
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    The ESEA requires that the Department publish in the Federal 
Register, and disseminate to interested parties, a notice of its 
decision to grant a waiver of statutory or regulatory requirements 
under the ESEA. Between 2011 and 2016, the Department granted more than 
800 waivers of statutory or regulatory requirements to State 
educational agencies (SEAs) but neglected to comply with the ESEA's 
publication and dissemination requirements. This notice is intended to 
fulfill the Department's obligation to publicize its waiver decisions 
by identifying the waivers granted during each calendar year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kia Weems, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 3W341, Washington, DC 20202. 
Telephone: (202) 260-2221 or by email: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text 
telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1-
800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2016, the Department granted a total of 
111 waivers to States under the waiver authority in section 8401 of the 
ESEA, as amended by the ESSA. We granted:
    (a) 73 waivers extending the period in which funds were available 
for obligation: 66 waivers for school improvement activities, one 
waiver for Improving Teacher Quality, one waiver for Migrant Education, 
three waivers for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), 
and two waivers for Mathematics and Science Partnerships;
    (b) 32 waivers of requirements related to State academic standards 
or assessments: Six waivers allowing substitution of standards or 
assessments and six waivers permitting SEAs or LEAs to refrain from 
reporting assessment or accountability determinations; and 26 waivers 
of the requirement that a State's assessment

[[Page 46797]]

system cover the full range of its academic content standards for 
speaking and listening;
    (c) One waiver permitting an LEA to serve a Title I-eligible high 
school with a graduation rate below 60 percent that the SEA identified 
as a priority school;
    (d) One waiver permitting local educational agencies (LEAs) to 
operate a Title I schoolwide program in a priority school or a focus 
school that has less than 40 percent poverty and is implementing a 
schoolwide intervention; and
    (e) Four waivers allowing an SEA to waive the carryover limitation 
for an LEA that needs an additional waiver beyond what the SEA is 
authorized to grant.

Waiver Data

I. Extensions of the Obligation Period

    A. Sixty-six waivers to extend the period of availability of School 
Improvement Grant (SIG) funds.
    1. Extended the period of availability of fiscal year (FY) 2011 SIG 
funds awarded to two States under section 1003(g) of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of the General 
Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicants:

 New York State Education Department
 Wisconsin Department of Education

    2. Extended the period of availability of FY 2012 SIG funds awarded 
to three States under section 1003(g) of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicants:

 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency

    3. Extended the period of availability of FY 2013 SIG funds awarded 
to seven States under section 1003(g) of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicants:

 Iowa Department of Education
 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Wisconsin Department of Education

    4. Extended the period of availability of FY 2014 SIG funds awarded 
to eight States under section 1003(g) of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
 Puerto Rico Department of Education

    5. Extended the period of availability of FY 2016 SIG funds awarded 
to 46 States under section 1003(g) of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Arkansas Department of Education
 California Department of Education
 Colorado Department of Education
 Connecticut State Department of Education
 District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of 
Education
 Florida Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Illinois State Board of Education
 Indiana Department of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Kentucky Department of Education
 Louisiana Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Maryland State Department of Education
 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Michigan Department of Education
 Minnesota Department of Education
 Mississippi Department of Education
 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Montana Office of Public Instruction
 Nebraska Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 New Mexico Public Education Department
 New York State Education Department
 North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oklahoma State Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education
 South Carolina Department of Education
 South Dakota Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Utah State Office of Education
 Virginia Department of Education
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 Wisconsin Department of Education

    B. One waiver to extend the period of availability of funds for 
Improving Teacher Quality awarded under Title II, Part A of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicant:

 New York State Department of Education

    C. One waiver to extend the period of availability of funds for 
Migrant Education related activities awarded under section Title I, 
Part C of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicant:

 New York State Department of Education

    D. Three waivers extending the period of availability of funds for 
the 21st CCLC program under Title IV, Part B of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    1. Extended the period of availability of FY 2012 funds reserved 
under Title IV, Part B of the ESEA made available for the 21st CCLC 
program.
    Waiver Applicant:

 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    2. Extended the period of availability of FY 2013 funds reserved 
under Title IV, Part B of the ESEA made available for the 21st CCLC 
program.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Maryland State Department of Education


[[Page 46798]]


    F. Two waivers to extend the period of availability of Mathematics 
and Science Partnerships funds.
    1. Extended the period of availability of FY 2012 funds awarded to 
one State under Title II, Part B of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicant:

 Illinois State Board of Education

    2. Extended the period of availability of FY 2013 funds awarded to 
one State under Title II, Part B of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA (20 
U.S.C. 1225(b)).
    Waiver Applicant:

 Illinois State Board of Education

III. Waivers of Requirements Related to State Academic Standards and 
Assessments

    A. One waiver allowing substitution of standards or assessments.
    Provisions waived: Section 1111(b)(1)(B) and (3)(C)(i) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Hawaii State Department of Education

    Description of Waiver: One-year waiver for the 2015-2016 school 
year of the statutory and regulatory requirements under Title I, Part A 
of the ESEA, which require the State to apply the same academic 
achievement standards, and to use the same academic assessments, for 
all public school children in the State.
    B. Three waivers of the requirement for an SEA to administer high-
quality student academic assessments.
    Provisions waived: Section 1111(b)(3)(A), (b)(3)(C)(vii), and 
(b)(3)(C)(ix)(I) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Montana Office of Public Instruction
 Nevada Department of Education

    Description of Waiver: Waiver of the requirement that the SEA 
administer on an annual basis a set of high-quality student academic 
assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics to all students in 
grades three to eight and once in high school.
    C. One waiver of reporting requirements related to standards and 
assessments.
    Provisions waived: Section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i), (1)(C)(iii)-(iv), and 
(2)(B) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

    Description of Waiver: Waiver for the 2015-2016 school year of the 
SEA and LEA reporting requirements in the ESEA corresponding to the 
waived assessment requirements.
    D. Twenty-six waivers allowing States to have assessments that did 
not asses all content standards.
    Provision waived: Section 1111(b)(3)(C)(ii) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arkansas Department of Education
 California Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Idaho State Board of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Indiana Department of Education
 Kentucky Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Louisiana Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Montana Office of Public Instruction
 Nevada Department of Education
 New York State Department of Education
 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 South Carolina Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Virginia Department of Education
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 Wisconsin Department of Education
 Wyoming Department Education

    Description of Waiver: Waiver from the requirement that the State's 
assessment system measure the State's speaking and listening standards.

IV. Within-District Allocations

    One waiver granting flexibility regarding within-district Title I 
allocations.
    Waiver Applicant:

 New York State Department of Education

    Description of Waiver: Permitted an LEA to serve with Title I funds 
a Title I-eligible high school with a graduation rate below 60 percent 
that the SEA identified as a priority school even if that school does 
not rank sufficiently high to be served based solely on the school's 
poverty rate.
    Provisions waived: Section 1113(a)(4)(B) and (c)(1) of the ESEA.

V. School-Wide Poverty Threshold

    One waiver allowing a Title I schoolwide program in a school below 
the 40 percent poverty threshold.
    Provision waived: Section 1114(a)(1) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

    Description of Waiver: Waiver permitting LEAs to operate a 
schoolwide program in a priority school or a focus school that does not 
meet the schoolwide poverty threshold of 40 percent and is implementing 
a schoolwide intervention.

VI. Authorizing an SEA To Waive the Carryover Limitation

    A. Four waivers authorizing SEAs to waive the carryover limitation 
for an LEA more than once every three years.
    Provision waived: Section 1127(b) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Indiana Department of Education

    Description of Waiver: One-year waiver to allow Indiana to grant 
the Indianapolis Public Schools, Edison Learning--Roosevelt College and 
Career Academy, and Dr. Robert H. Faulkner Academy a waiver of the 
carryover limitation with respect to the FY 2015 Title I, Part A funds 
even if the LEA received a carryover waiver of either its FY 2013 or FY 
2014 Title I, Part A funds from the State.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Michigan Department of Education

    Description of Waiver: One-year waiver allowed Michigan to grant 
the School District of the City of Pontiac and Saginaw City School 
District a waiver of the carryover limitation with respect to FY 2014 
Title I, Part A funds even if the LEA received a carryover waiver of 
either its FY 2012 or FY 2013 Title I, Part A funds from the State.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

    Description of Waiver: One-year waiver allowed Washington to grant 
not more than 90 LEAs a waiver of the carryover limitation with respect 
to unexpended FY 2015 Title I, Part A funds even if an LEA received a 
carryover waiver of either its FY 2013 or FY 2014 Title I, Part A funds 
from the State.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free 
internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the 
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System

[[Page 46799]]

at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well 
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF you 
must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
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by the Department.

    Dated: October 3, 2017.
Jason Botel,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-21616 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P