The Office of the State Superintendent of Education plans to request from the US Department of Education waivers of multiple Title I, Part A statutory and regulatory requirements, including several requirements that affect how ARRA Title I, Part A funds can be used by local educational agencies (LEAs). The OSSE plans to apply for these waivers on behalf of all LEAs in the District. If OSSE receives approval from the Department, LEAs will need to apply to the OSSE for approval to implement a waiver. Information regarding how LEAs will apply for OSSE approval to implement one or more waivers will be forthcoming.

The requests are to allow LEAs, with approval of the OSSE, to:

• Provide SES services to eligible students in schools in the first year of improvement and to count the associated costs toward meeting their 20 percent obligation,
• Exclude ARRA funds in calculating their 20 percent  SES/choice-related transportation set-aside amount,
• Exclude ARRA funds in calculating their 10 percent  professional development set-aside amount,
• Exclude ARRA funds in calculating the 10 percent  professional development obligation for schools in improvement,
• Exclude ARRA funds in calculating the per-pupil amount for SES, and 
• Receive a waiver of the 15 percent carryover limitation more than once in three years.

Proposed Request for Title I Waivers 09-03-09 [PDF]

LEAs wishing to comment on these proposed waiver requests should submit their comments in writing to [email protected] by 5 pm, Friday, September 11, 2009. Any comments submitted will be included, without identifying information, in the waiver application to the US Department of Education. 

For additional information on these planned waiver requests, please contact Jeremy Skinner at (202) 724-2343 or by email at [email protected].