[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46783-46790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21621]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Waivers Granted Under Section 9401 of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended

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 2013 
under the waiver authority of the Elementary and

[[Page 46784]]

Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind 
Act of 2001 (ESEA), including waivers related to flexibilities granted 
to States in exchange for State-led reforms (ESEA flexibility).
    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 2013.

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 2013, the Department granted waivers 
through an initiative known as ESEA flexibility to 45 States under the 
waiver authority in section 9401 of the ESEA, in exchange for a 
rigorous and comprehensive State-developed plan designed to improve 
student academic achievement and increase the quality of 
instruction.\1\ The Department also granted individual waivers to 
certain States under the waiver authority in section 9401 of the ESEA.
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    \1\ Additional information regarding ESEA flexibility can be 
found at: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.html.
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    We granted:
    (a) ESEA Flexibility: The Department granted the following ten 
waivers to 45 SEAs under ESEA flexibility:
    1. Flexibility Regarding the 2013-2014 Timeline for Determining 
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP);
    2. Flexibility in Implementation of School Improvement 
Requirements;
    3. Flexibility in Implementation of Local Educational Agency (LEA) 
Improvement Requirements;
    4. Flexibility for Rural LEAs;
    5. Flexibility for Schoolwide Programs;
    6. Flexibility to Support School Improvement;
    7. Flexibility for Reward Schools;
    8. Flexibility Regarding Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) Improvement 
Plans;
    9. Flexibility to Transfer Certain Funds; and
    10. Flexibility to Use School Improvement Grant (SIG) Funds to 
Support Priority Schools.
    In addition to waiving the ten provisions listed above, the 
Department granted three optional waivers under ESEA flexibility 
related to the following:
    1. Waivers of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st 
CCLC) requirement to provide services during non-school hours or when 
school is not in session;
    2. Waivers of the requirement to make AYP determinations; and
    3. Waivers of requirements pertaining to Title I, Part A within-
district allocations.
    (b) 119 waivers extending the period in which funds were available 
for obligation: 30 waivers extending the period for State-administered 
ESEA formula grant programs that received fiscal year (FY) 2011 funds 
under the regular appropriation or FY 2009 funds under the American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), one waiver extending the period 
for the 21st CCLC, 84 waivers for school improvement activities, and 
four waivers extending the period for the Striving Readers 
Comprehensive Literacy Formula Grant Program funds;
    (c) Three waivers allowing SEAs to approve schools or LEAs 
identified as in need of improvement to become supplemental educational 
services (SES) providers;
    (d) Two waivers pertaining to school eligibility requirements and 
the definition of persistently lowest-achieving schools;
    (e) Eight waivers of requirements related to State academic 
standards or assessments: Three waivers allowing extensions of the 
growth model pilot; four waivers related to the substitution of 
standards or assessments; and one waiver permitting the use of annual 
measureable achievement objectives (AMOs) to make AYP determination 
based on assessments administered the previous year;
    (f) 45 waivers allowing SEAs to waive the carryover limitation more 
than once every three years for their Title I, Part A allocation; and
    (g) One waiver of the requirement that an LEA provide parents of 
eligible students with notice of their public school choice options at 
least 14 days before the start of school year.

I. ESEA Flexibility Waivers

A. Flexibility Regarding the 2013-2014 Timeline for Determining AYP

    The Department waived the requirements in section 1111(b)(2)(E)-(H) 
of the ESEA that prescribe how an SEA establishes AMOs for determining 
AYP to ensure that all students met or exceeded the State's proficient 
level of academic achievement on the State's assessments in reading/
language arts and mathematics no later than the end of the 2013-2014 
school year. Under this waiver, an SEA no longer needed to follow the 
statutory procedures for setting AMOs to use in determining AYP. 
Instead, an SEA had flexibility to develop new ambitious but achievable 
AMOs in reading/language arts and mathematics in order to provide 
meaningful goals to guide support and improvement efforts for the 
State, LEAs, schools, and student subgroups.
    Provisions waived: Section 1111(b)(2)(E)-(H) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

B. Flexibility in Implementation of School Improvement Requirements

    The Department waived the requirements in section 1116(b) of the 
ESEA for an LEA to identify for improvement, corrective action, or 
restructuring, as appropriate, a Title I school that failed, for two 
consecutive years or more, to make AYP, and for a school so identified 
and its LEA to take certain improvement actions. Under this waiver, an 
LEA was no longer required to identify respective Title I schools for 
improvement, corrective action, or restructuring, and neither the LEA 
nor its schools were required to take statutorily required improvement 
actions, including providing public school choice and SES to eligible

[[Page 46785]]

students. An LEA was also exempt from administrative and reporting 
requirements related to school improvement.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 San Francisco Unified School District (California)
 Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
 Fresno Unified School District (California)
 Sanger Unified School District (California)
 Santa Ana Unified School District (California)
 Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
 Long Beach Unified School District (California)
 Oakland Unified School District (California)

C. Flexibility in Implementation of LEA Improvement

    The Department waived the requirements in section 1116(c) of the 
ESEA for an SEA to identify for improvement or corrective action, as 
appropriate, an LEA that, for two consecutive years or more, failed to 
make AYP, and neither the LEA nor the SEA was required to take 
statutorily required improvement actions. An LEA was also exempt from 
associated administrative and reporting requirements related to LEA 
improvement.
    Provisions waived: Section 1116(c)(3) and (5)-(11) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 San Francisco Unified School District (California)
 Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
 Fresno Unified School District (California)
 Sanger Unified School District (California)
 Santa Ana Unified School District (California)
 Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
 Long Beach Unified School District (California)
 Oakland Unified School District (California)

D. Flexibility for Rural LEAs

    The Department waived the requirements in sections 6213(b) and 
6224(e) of the ESEA that limited participation in, and use of funds 
under, the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) and RLIS programs 
based on whether an LEA made AYP and was complying with the 
requirements in section 1116 of the ESEA. Under the waiver, an LEA that 
received SRSA or RLIS funds had flexibility to use those funds for any 
authorized purpose regardless of the LEA's AYP status.
    Provisions waived: Sections 6213(b) and 6224(e) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

E. Flexibility for Schoolwide Programs

    The Department waived the requirement in section 1114(a)(1) of the 
ESEA that a school have a poverty percentage of 40 percent or more in 
order to operate a schoolwide program. Under this waiver, an LEA had 
flexibility to operate a schoolwide program in a Title I school that 
did not meet the 40 percent poverty threshold if the SEA identified the 
school as a priority school or a focus school, and the LEA implemented 
interventions consistent with the turnaround principles or 
interventions that were based on the needs of the students in the 
school and designed to enhance the entire educational program in the 
school, as appropriate.
    Provision waived: Section 1114(a)(1) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 San Francisco Unified School District (California)
 Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
 Fresno Unified School District (California)
 Sanger Unified School District (California)
 Santa Ana Unified School District (California)
 Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
 Long Beach Unified School District (California)
 Oakland Unified School District (California)

F. Flexibility To Support School Improvement

    The Department waived the requirement in section 1003(a) of the 
ESEA for an SEA to distribute funds

[[Page 46786]]

reserved under that section only to LEAs with schools identified for 
improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. Under this waiver, an 
SEA had flexibility to allocate ESEA section 1003(a) funds to an LEA in 
order to serve any priority or focus school, if the SEA determined such 
school was most in need of additional support.
    Provision waived: Section 1003(a) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia State Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

G. Flexibility for Reward Schools

    The Department waived the provision in section 1117(c)(2)(A) of the 
ESEA that authorized an SEA to reserve Title I, Part A funds to reward 
a Title I school that (1) significantly closed the achievement gap 
between subgroups in the school; or (2) exceeded AYP for two or more 
consecutive years. Under this waiver, an SEA had flexibility to use 
funds reserved under section 1117(c)(2)(A) of the ESEA to provide 
financial rewards to any reward school, if the SEA determined such 
school was most appropriate to receive a financial reward.
    Provision waived: Section 1117(b)(1)(B) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Learning Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

H. Flexibility Regarding HQT Improvement Plans

    The Department waived the requirements in section 2141(a) through 
(c) of the ESEA for an LEA and SEA to comply with certain requirements 
for improvement plans regarding highly qualified teachers. Under the 
waiver, an LEA that did not meet its HQT target did not have to develop 
an improvement plan under section 2141 of the ESEA and had flexibility 
in how it used its Title I and Title II funds. An SEA was exempt from 
the requirements regarding its role in the implementation of those 
plans, including the requirement that it enter into agreements with 
LEAs on the use of funds and the requirement that it provide technical 
assistance to LEAs on their plans. This flexibility allowed an SEA and 
LEA to focus on developing and implementing more meaningful evaluation 
and support systems.
    Provisions waived: Section 2141(a)-(c) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 San Francisco Unified School District (California)
 Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
 Fresno Unified School District (California)
 Sanger Unified School District (California)
 Santa Ana Unified School District (California)
 Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
 Long Beach Unified School District (California)
 Oakland Unified School District (California)

II. Flexibility To Transfer Certain Funds

    The Department waived the limitations in section 6123 of the ESEA 
that limited the amount of funds an SEA or LEA may transfer from 
certain ESEA programs to other ESEA programs. Under this waiver, an SEA 
and its LEAs had flexibility to transfer up to 100 percent of the funds 
received under the authorized programs among those programs and into 
Title I, Part A programs. Moreover, to minimize burden at the State and 
local levels, the SEA was not required to notify the Department, and 
its participating LEAs were not required to notify the SEA, prior to 
transferring funds.
    Provisions waived: Section 6123(a), (b)(1), (d), and (e)(1) of the 
ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 San Francisco Unified School District (California)
 Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
 Fresno Unified School District (California)
 Sanger Unified School District (California)
 Santa Ana Unified School District (California)
 Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
 Long Beach Unified School District (California)
 Oakland Unified School District (California)

A. Flexibility To Use SIG Funds To Support Priority Schools

    The Department waived the requirements in section 1003(g)(4) of the

[[Page 46787]]

ESEA and the definition of a ``Tier I school'' in section I.A.3 of the 
SIG final requirements. Under this waiver, an SEA had flexibility to 
award SIG funds available under section 1003(g) of the ESEA to an LEA 
to implement one of the four SIG models in any priority school.
    Provision waived: Section 1003(g)(4) of the ESEA and Section I.A.3 
of the SIG final requirements (74 FR 65618).
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Idaho State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

B. Flexibility in the Use of 21st CCLC Program Funds

    The Department waived requirements in sections 4201(b)(1)(A) and 
4204(b)(2)(A) of the ESEA that restricted the activities provided by a 
community learning center under the 21st CCLC program to activities 
provided only during non-school hours or periods when school was not in 
session (i.e., before and after school or during summer recess). Under 
this waiver, an SEA had flexibility to permit community learning 
centers to use 21st CCLC funds to support expanded learning time during 
the school day in addition to activities during non-school hours or 
periods when school was not in session.
    Provisions waived: Sections 4201(b)(1)(A) and 4204(b)(2)(A) of the 
ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

C. Flexibility Regarding Making AYP Determinations

    The Department waived the requirements in section 1116(a)(1)(A)-(B) 
and (c)(1)(A) of the ESEA that required LEAs and SEAs to make 
determinations of AYP for schools and LEAs, respectively. Instead, an 
SEA and its LEAs had to report on their report cards performance 
against the AMOs for all subgroups identified in section 
1111(b)(2)(C)(v) of the ESEA, and use performance against the AMOs to 
support continuous improvement in Title I schools.
    Provisions waived: Section 1116(a)(1)(A)-(B) and (c)(1)(A) of the 
ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

D. Flexibility Regarding Within-District Title I Allocations

    The Department waived the requirements in section 1113(a)(3)-(4) of 
the ESEA that required an LEA to serve eligible schools under Title I 
in rank order of poverty and to allocate Title I, Part A funds based on 
that rank ordering. Under this waiver, an LEA had flexibility 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 did not rank sufficiently high to be served based solely 
on the school's poverty rate.
    Provisions waived: Section 1113(a)(3)-(4) and (c)(1) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Arizona Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Maryland State Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Puerto Rico Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 San Francisco Unified School District (California)
 Los Angeles Unified School District (California)
 Fresno Unified School District (California)
 Sanger Unified School District (California)
 Santa Ana Unified School District (California)
 Sacramento City Unified School District (California)
 Long Beach Unified School District (California)
 Oakland Unified School District (California)

III. Extensions of the Obligation Period

    A. The Department granted waivers for ESEA State-administered 
formula grant programs extending until September 30, 2014, the period 
of availability for FY 2011 Title I, Part A funds reserved for school 
improvement activities under section 1003(a) 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:

 Maryland State Department of Education
 New York State Department of Education
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oklahoma State Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education
 Virginia Department of Education

    B. The Department granted waivers for ESEA State-administered 
formula

[[Page 46788]]

grant programs extending until September 30, 2014, the period of 
availability of FY 2009 Title I, Part A program funds awarded under 
ARRA.
    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
 Arkansas Department of Education
 California Department of Education
 Colorado Department of Education
 Florida Department of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Kentucky Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Maryland State Department of Education
 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Minnesota Department of Education
 Montana Office of Public Instruction
 Nebraska Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 New Mexico Public Education Department
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education
 South Carolina Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 West Virginia Department of Education

    C. Waivers extending the period of availability of SIG program 
funds awarded under section 1003(g) of the ESEA.
    1. Extended the period of availability of FY 2009 SIG funds until 
September 30, 2014.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 Arizona Department of Education
 Arkansas Department of Education
 California Department of Education
 Colorado Department of Education
 Florida Department of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Kentucky Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Maryland State Department of Education
 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Minnesota Department of Education
 Montana Office of Public Instruction
 Nebraska Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 New Mexico Public Education Department
 Oregon Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education
 South Carolina Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education

    2. Extended the period of availability of FY 2010 SIG funds.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.
    a. Extension granted until June 1, 2013.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Idaho State Department of Education

    b. Extension granted until August 1, 2013.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Idaho State Department of Education

    c. Extension granted until September 30, 2013.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Mississippi Department of Education
 Virginia Department of Education

    d. Extension granted until September 30, 2014.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alabama State Department of Education
 California Department of Education
 Delaware Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Idaho State Department of Education
 Illinois State Board of Education
 Michigan Department of Education
 Minnesota Department of Education
 Mississippi Department of Education
 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Oklahoma State Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education
 Texas Education Agency

    3. Extended the period of availability of FY 2011 SIG funds.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.
    a. Extension granted until September 30, 2014.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
 Arizona Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Kentucky Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Michigan Department of Education
 Minnesota Department of Education
 Mississippi Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 New Mexico Public Education Department
 Ohio Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education
 South Carolina Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education
 Utah State Office of Education
 Virginia Department of Education
 Wisconsin Department of Public Education

    b. Extension granted until September 30, 2015.
    Waiver Applicants:

 California Department of Education
 District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of 
Education
 Idaho State Department of Education
 Illinois State Board of Education
 Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 New York State Department of Education
 Oklahoma State Department of Education

    4. Extended the period of availability of FY 2012 SIG funds.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.
    a. Extension granted until September 30, 2015.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Arkansas Department of Education
 Delaware Department of Education
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

    b. Extension granted until September 30, 2016.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Colorado Department of Education
 District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of 
Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Idaho State Department of Education
 Illinois State Board of Education
 Indiana Department of Education
 Kansas State Department of Education
 Louisiana Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
 Nebraska Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education

    5. Extended the period of availability of FY 2013 SIG funds.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.

[[Page 46789]]

    a. Extension granted until September 30, 2016.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Minnesota Department of Education

    D. Waivers for the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant 
Program extending the period of availability until December 31, 2013 of 
FY 2010 funds awarded under Part E, Section 1502 of the ESEA.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 California Department of Education
 New Mexico Public Education Department
 South Carolina Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education

    E. Waivers for the 21st CCLC program extending the period of 
availability of FY 2010 funds until September 30, 2013.
    Provision waived: Tydings Amendment, section 421(b) of GEPA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Kansas State Department of Education

IV. Waivers Allowing SEAs To Approve Schools or LEAs Identified as in 
Need of Improvement To Become SES Providers

    The Department permitted SEAs to approve a school or LEA identified 
for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring to serve as a 
provider of SES.
    Provisions waived: 34 CFR 200.47(b)(1)(iv)(A) and (B).
    Waiver Applicants:

 California Department of Education (during the 2014-15 and 
2015-16 school years)
 Montana Office of Public Instruction (during the 2013-14 
school year)

V. Waivers of School Eligibility Requirements and Definition of 
Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools

    The Department allowed SEAs to: (A) Waive the school eligibility 
requirements by replacing the list of Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III 
schools with their list of priority schools; and (B) replace the 
definition of ``persistently lowest-achieving schools'' with the 
State's definition of ``priority schools.''
    Provisions waived: Sections I.A.1 and I.A.3 of the SIG final 
requirements (75 FR 66363).
    Waiver Applicants:

 Idaho State Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education

VI. Waivers of Academic Standards, Assessments, and Accountability 
Requirements

    A. Two-year extension of waiver permitting SEAs to use their Growth 
Model Pilots in making accountability determinations based on 
assessments administered through the 2013-2014 school year.
    Provision waived: Section 1111(b)(2) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicants:

 Delaware Department of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Pennsylvania Department of Education

    B. Waivers allowing substitution of standards or assessments.
    Allowed Kansas to permit McPherson Unified School District, Kansas 
City, Kansas Public Schools and the Clifton-Clyde Unified School 
District to: (i) Administer the ACT in high school and the EXPLORE in 
grade 8 in lieu of the Kansas State assessments; and (ii) use the 
results of those assessments for accountability purposes.
    Provisions waived: Section 1111(b)(1)(B), (b)(3)(A), and 
(b)(3)(C)(i)-(ii) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Kansas State Department of Education

    C. Waiver permitting the use of AMOs to make AYP determinations 
based on assessments administered the previous year.
    Provision waived: Section 1111(b)(2)(H) of the ESEA.
    Waiver Applicant:

 Wyoming Department of Education

VII. Waivers Authorizing an SEA To Waive the Carryover Limitation for 
an LEA Because of Its Receipt of Title I, Part A ARRA Funds

    Waiver to permit an SEA to waive the carryover limitation more than 
once within three years for an LEA that needs the additional waiver 
because of its receipt of Title I, Part A ARRA funds.
    Provision waived: Section 1127(b) of the ESEA.
    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
 District of Columbia Office of State Superintendent of 
Education
 Florida Department of Education
 Georgia Department of Education
 Hawaii State Department of Education
 Idaho State Department of Education
 Illinois State Board of Education (applies to FY 2011 and 
2012)
 Indiana Department of Education
 Iowa Department of Education
 Kentucky Department of Education
 Louisiana Department of Education
 Maine Department of Education
 Michigan Department of Education
 Minnesota Department of Education
 Mississippi Department of Education
 Missouri Department of Education
 Montana Office of Public Instruction
 Nebraska Department of Education
 Nevada Department of Education
 New Hampshire Department of Education: Merrimack School 
District
 New Hampshire Department of Education: Derry School District
 New Hampshire Department of Education
 New Jersey Department of Education
 New Mexico Public Education Department
 New York State Department of Education
 North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
 Ohio Department of Education
 Oklahoma State Department of Education
 Rhode Island Department of Education
 South Carolina Department of Education
 South Dakota Department of Education
 Tennessee Department of Education
 Utah State Office of Education
 Virginia Department of Education
 Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
 West Virginia Department of Education
 Wisconsin Department of Public Education
 Wyoming Department of Education

VIII. Waivers Regarding Public School Choice

    The Department granted an SEA a waiver to postpone notice of public 
school choice options beyond 14 days before the start of the school 
year to parents of eligible children attending schools that--
    A. Were newly identified for improvement for the school year; or
    B. Made AYP in the previous year, but did not exit improvement 
status.
    Provisions waived: Section 1116(b)(1)(E)(i) of the ESEA and 34 CFR 
200.37(b)(4)(iv).
    Waiver Applicant:

 Wyoming Department of Education

    Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this 
document in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, 
audiotape, or compact disc) on request to the program contact person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this 
document is the document published in the Federal

[[Page 46790]]

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 at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view 
this document, as well as 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 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: 
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

    Dated: October 3, 2017.
Jason Botel,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-21621 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P