A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Introduction

This is the second annual report to Congress on waivers granted by the U.S. Department of Education, mandated under section 14401(e)(4) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Three education laws passed in 1994 -- the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the School-to-Work Opportunities Act, and the reauthorized ESEA -- allow the Secretary of Education to grant waivers of certain requirements of federal education programs in cases where a waiver will likely contribute to improved teaching and learning. The waiver authorities help states and school districts to adapt federal programs and use federal funds in ways that best fit their local efforts ^{[ 1 ]}. The waiver authorities provide additional flexibility to states and school districts in exchange for increased accountability for improving student achievement. The law requires that waiver applicants describe how a waiver would improve instruction and academic performance, and that the waivers conform to the underlying intent and purposes of the affected programs. Because no waivers have been granted under the Goals 2000 or School-to-Work Opportunities Act since the last report to Congress in October 1997, this report focuses on waivers granted under the ESEA between October 1, 1997 and September 30, 1998.

Section I of this report reviews waivers granted from the establishment of the waiver authorities in 1994, with particular focus on waivers granted in 1998. Section II examines the progress school districts and states have made under waivers that have been effective for at least two years, as reported by states to the U. S. Department of Education in March 1998 ^{[ 2 ]}. Section III reviews the Department's administration of the waiver authorities, and section IV contains some conclusions about how waivers contribute to the broader effort to improve teaching and learning for all students.

Footnotes:

^{[ 1 ]} See Appendix A for lists of specific provisions that may be waived by the Department of Education and the statutory criteria for granting waivers under these provisions. [ Return to text ]

^{[ 2 ]} After two years of operating under a waiver and each year thereafter, districts are required by law to report on progress made under their waivers to their states. In turn, states must report to the Department on how these waivers were used to improve teaching and learning and their consequences for student achievement. [ Return to text ]

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