subpart 3—state and local flexibility demonstration
§7311. Short title
This subpart may be cited as the "State and Local Flexibility Demonstration Act".
(
Prior Provisions
A prior section 7311,
§7311a. Purpose
The purpose of this subpart is to create options for selected State educational agencies and local educational agencies—
(1) to improve the academic achievement of all students, and to focus the resources of the Federal Government upon such achievement;
(2) to improve teacher quality and subject matter mastery, especially in mathematics, reading, and science;
(3) to better empower parents, educators, administrators, and schools to effectively address the needs of their children and students;
(4) to give participating State educational agencies and local educational agencies greater flexibility in determining how to increase their students' academic achievement and implement education reforms in their schools;
(5) to eliminate barriers to implementing effective State and local education reform, while preserving the goals of opportunity for all students and accountability for student progress;
(6) to hold participating State educational agencies and local educational agencies accountable for increasing the academic achievement of all students, especially disadvantaged students; and
(7) to narrow achievement gaps between the lowest and highest achieving groups of students so that no child is left behind.
(
§7311b. General provision
For purposes of this subpart, any State that is one local educational agency shall be considered a State educational agency and not a local educational agency.
(
Prior Provisions
A prior section 7312,
Division A—State Flexibility Authority
§7315. State flexibility
(a) Flexibility authority
Except as otherwise provided in this division, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, grant flexibility authority to not more than seven eligible State educational agencies, under which the agencies may consolidate and use funds in accordance with
(b) Definitions
In this division:
(1) Eligible State educational agency
The term "eligible State educational agency" means a State educational agency that—
(A) submits an approvable application under subsection (c) of this section; and
(B) proposes performance agreements—
(i) that shall be entered into with not fewer than 4, and not more than 10, local educational agencies;
(ii) not fewer than half of which shall be entered into with high-poverty local educational agencies; and
(iii) that require the local educational agencies described in clause (i) to align their use of consolidated funds under
(2) High-poverty local educational agency
The term "high-poverty local educational agency" means a local educational agency for which 20 percent or more of the children who are age 5 through 17, and served by the local educational agency, are from families with incomes below the poverty line.
(c) State applications
(1) Applications
To be eligible to receive flexibility authority under this division, a State educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—
(A) information demonstrating, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the grant of authority offers substantial promise of—
(i) assisting the State educational agency in making adequate yearly progress, as defined under
(ii) aligning State and local reforms and assisting the local educational agencies that enter into performance agreements with the State educational agency under paragraph (2) in making such adequate yearly progress;
(B) the performance agreements that the State educational agency proposes to enter into with eligible local educational agencies under paragraph (2);
(C) information demonstrating that the State educational agency has consulted with and involved parents, representatives of local educational agencies, and other educators in the development of the terms of the grant of authority;
(D) a provision specifying that the grant of flexibility authority shall be for a term of not more than 5 years;
(E) a list of the programs described in
(F) a provision specifying that no requirements of any program described in
(G) a 5-year plan describing how the State educational agency intends to consolidate and use the funds from programs included in the scope of the grant of authority, for any educational purpose authorized under this chapter, in order to make adequate yearly progress and advance the education priorities of the State and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency enters into performance agreements;
(H) an assurance that the State educational agency will provide parents, teachers, and representatives of local educational agencies and schools with notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed terms of the grant of authority;
(I) an assurance that the State educational agency, and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency enters into performance agreements, will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures that will ensure proper disbursement of, and accounting for, Federal funds consolidated and used under the grant of authority;
(J) an assurance that the State educational agency, and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency enters into performance agreements, will meet the requirements of all applicable Federal civil rights laws in carrying out the grant of authority, including consolidating and using funds under the grant of authority;
(K) an assurance that, in consolidating and using funds under the grant of authority—
(i) the State educational agency, and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency enters into performance agreements, will provide for the equitable participation of students and professional staff in private schools consistent with
(ii) that
(L) an assurance that the State educational agency will, for the duration of the grant of authority, use funds consolidated under
(M) an assurance that the State educational agency shall, not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary makes the grant of authority, and annually thereafter during the term of the grant of authority, disseminate widely to parents and the general public, transmit to the Secretary, distribute to print and broadcast media, and post on the Internet, a report, which shall include a detailed description of how the State educational agency, and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency enters into performance agreements, used the funds consolidated under the grant of authority to make adequate yearly progress and advance the education priorities of the State and local educational agencies in the State.
(2) Proposed performance agreements with local educational agencies
(A) In general
A State educational agency that wishes to receive flexibility authority under this subpart shall propose performance agreements that meet the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section (subject to approval of the application or amendment involved under subsection (d) or (e) of this section).
(B) Performance agreements
Each proposed performance agreement with a local educational agency shall—
(i) contain plans for the local educational agency to consolidate and use funds in accordance with
(ii) be subject to the requirements of division B of this subpart relating to agreements between the Secretary and a local educational agency, except—
(I) that, as appropriate, references in that division to the Secretary shall be deemed to be references to the State educational agency; and
(II) as otherwise provided in this division; and
(iii) contain an assurance that the local educational agency will, for the duration of the grant of authority, use funds consolidated under
(d) Approval and selection
The Secretary shall—
(1) establish a peer review process to assist in the review of proposed State applications under this section; and
(2) appoint individuals to participate in the peer review process who are—
(A) representative of parents, teachers, State educational agencies, and local educational agencies; and
(B) familiar with educational standards, assessments, accountability, curricula, instruction, and staff development, and other diverse educational needs of students.
(e) Amendment to grant of authority
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall amend the grant of flexibility authority made to a State educational agency under this division, in each of the following circumstances:
(A) Reduction in scope of the grant of authority
Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant of flexibility authority, the State educational agency seeks to amend the grant of authority to remove from the scope of the grant of authority any program described in
(B) Expansion of scope of the grant of authority
Not later than 1 year after receiving a grant of flexibility authority, the State educational agency seeks to amend the grant of authority to include in the scope of the grant of authority any additional program described in
(C) Changes with respect to number of performance agreements
The State educational agency seeks to amend the grant of authority to include or remove performance agreements that the State educational agency proposes to enter into with eligible local educational agencies, except that in no case may the State educational agency enter into performance agreements that do not meet the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section.
(2) Approval and disapproval
(A) Deemed approval
A proposed amendment to a grant of flexibility authority submitted by a State educational agency pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary makes a written determination, prior to the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary received the proposed amendment, that the proposed amendment is not in compliance with this division.
(B) Disapproval
The Secretary shall not finally disapprove the proposed amendment, except after giving the State educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
(C) Notification
If the Secretary finds that the proposed amendment is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with this division, the Secretary shall—
(i) give the State educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing; and
(ii) notify the State educational agency of the finding of noncompliance and, in such notification, shall—
(I) cite the specific provisions in the proposed amendment that are not in compliance; and
(II) request additional information, only as to the noncompliant provisions, needed to make the proposed amendment compliant.
(D) Response
If the State educational agency responds to the Secretary's notification described in subparagraph (C)(ii) during the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the agency received the notification, and resubmits the proposed amendment with the requested information described in subparagraph (C)(ii)(II), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove such proposed amendment prior to the later of—
(i) the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the proposed amendment is resubmitted; or
(ii) the expiration of the 120-day period described in subparagraph (A).
(E) Failure to respond
If the State educational agency does not respond to the Secretary's notification described in subparagraph (C)(ii) during the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the agency received the notification, such proposed amendment shall be deemed to be disapproved.
(3) Treatment of program funds withdrawn from grant of authority
Beginning on the effective date of an amendment executed under paragraph (1)(A), each program requirement of each program removed from the scope of a grant of authority shall apply to the use of funds made available under the program by the State educational agency and each local educational agency with which the State educational agency has a performance agreement.
(
§7315a. Consolidation and use of funds
(a) In general
(1) Authority
Under a grant of flexibility authority made under this division, a State educational agency may consolidate Federal funds described in subsection (b) of this section and made available to the agency, and use such funds for any educational purpose authorized under this chapter.
(2) Program requirements
Except as otherwise provided in this division, a State educational agency may use funds under paragraph (1) notwithstanding the program requirements of the program under which the funds were made available to the State.
(b) Eligible funds and programs
(1) Funds
The funds described in this subsection are funds, for State-level activities and State administration, that are described in the following provisions:
(A)
(B) Paragraphs (4) and (5) of
(C)
(D)
(E) Subsections (a) (with the agreement of the Governor), (b)(2), and (c)(1) of
(F) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of
(G)
(2) Programs
The programs described in this subsection are the programs authorized to be carried out with funds described in paragraph (1).
(c) Special rule
A State educational agency that receives a grant of flexibility authority under this division—
(1) shall ensure that the funds described in
(2) may specify how the local educational agencies shall use the allocated funds.
(
§7315b. Performance review and penalties
(a) Midterm review
(1) Failure to make adequate yearly progress
If, during the term of a grant of flexibility authority under this division, a State educational agency fails to make adequate yearly progress for 2 consecutive years, the Secretary shall, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing, terminate the grant of authority promptly.
(2) Noncompliance
The Secretary may, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing (including the opportunity to provide evidence as described in paragraph (3)), terminate a grant of flexibility authority for a State if there is evidence that the State educational agency involved has failed to comply with the terms of the grant of authority.
(3) Evidence
If a State educational agency believes that a determination of the Secretary under this subsection is in error for statistical or other substantive reasons, the State educational agency may provide supporting evidence to the Secretary, and the Secretary shall consider that evidence before making a final termination determination under this subsection.
(b) Final review
(1) In general
If, at the end of the 5-year term of a grant of flexibility authority made under this division, the State educational agency has not met the requirements described in
(2) Compliance
Beginning on the date on which such term ends, the State educational agency, and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency has entered into performance agreements, shall be required to comply with each of the program requirements in effect on such date for each program that was included in the grant of authority.
(
§7315c. Renewal of grant of flexibility authority
(a) In general
Except as provided in
(b) Renewal
The Secretary may not renew a grant of flexibility authority under this division unless, not later than 6 months before the end of the original term of the grant of authority, the State educational agency seeking the renewal notifies the Secretary, and the local educational agencies with which the State educational agency has entered into performance agreements, of the agency's intention to renew the grant of authority.
(c) Effective date
A renewal under this section shall be effective on the later of—
(1) the expiration of the original term of the grant of authority; or
(2) the date on which the State educational agency seeking the renewal provides to the Secretary all data required for the application described in
(
Division B—Local Flexibility Demonstration
§7321. Local flexibility demonstration agreements
(a) Authority
Except as otherwise provided in this division, the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, enter into local flexibility demonstration agreements—
(1) with local educational agencies that submit approvable proposed agreements under subsection (c) of this section and that are selected under subsection (b) of this section; and
(2) under which those agencies may consolidate and use funds in accordance with
(b) Selection of local educational agencies
(1) In general
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall enter into local flexibility demonstration agreements under this division with not more than 80 local educational agencies. Each local educational agency shall be selected on a competitive basis from among those local educational agencies that—
(A) submit a proposed local flexibility demonstration agreement under subsection (c) of this section to the Secretary and demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, that the agreement—
(i) has a substantial promise of assisting the local educational agency in meeting the State's definition of adequate yearly progress, advancing the education priorities of the local educational agency, meeting the general purposes of the programs included under this division and the purposes of this part, improving student achievement, and narrowing achievement gaps in accordance with
(ii) meets the requirements of this division; and
(iii) contains a plan to consolidate and use funds in accordance with
(B) have consulted and involved parents and other educators in the development of the proposed local flexibility demonstration agreement.
(2) Geographic distribution
(A) Initial agreements
The Secretary may enter into not more than three local flexibility demonstration agreements under this division with local educational agencies in each State that does not have a grant of flexibility authority under division A of this subpart.
(B) Urban and rural areas
If more than three local educational agencies in a State submit approvable local flexibility demonstration agreements under this division, the Secretary shall select local educational agencies with which to enter into such agreements in a manner that ensures an equitable distribution among such agencies serving urban and rural areas.
(C) Priority of States to enter into State flexibility demonstration agreements
Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a local educational agency may not seek to enter into a local flexibility demonstration agreement under this division if that agency is located in a State for which the State educational agency—
(i) has, not later than 4 months after January 8, 2002, notified the Secretary of its intent to apply for a grant of flexibility authority under division A of this subpart and, within such period of time as the Secretary may establish, is provided with such authority by the Secretary; or
(ii) has, at any time after such period, been granted flexibility authority under division A of this subpart.
(c) Required terms of local flexibility demonstration agreement
Each local flexibility demonstration agreement entered into with the Secretary under this division shall contain each of the following terms:
(1) Duration
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall be for a term of 5 years.
(2) Application of program requirements
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall provide that no requirements of any program described in
(3) List of programs
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall list which of the programs described in
(4) Use of funds to improve student achievement
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain a 5-year plan describing how the local educational agency intends to consolidate and use the funds from programs included in the scope of the agreement for any educational purpose authorized under this chapter to advance the education priorities of the local educational agency, meet the general purposes of the included programs, improve student achievement, and narrow achievement gaps in accordance with
(5) Local input
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain an assurance that the local educational agency will provide parents, teachers, and representatives of schools with notice and an opportunity to comment on the proposed terms of the local flexibility demonstration agreement.
(6) Fiscal responsibilities
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain an assurance that the local educational agency will use fiscal control and fund accounting procedures that will ensure proper disbursement of, and accounting for, Federal funds consolidated and used under the agreement.
(7) Civil rights
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain an assurance that the local educational agency will meet the requirements of all applicable Federal civil rights laws in carrying out the agreement and in consolidating and using the funds under the agreement.
(8) Private school participation
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain an assurance that the local educational agency agrees that in consolidating and using funds under the agreement—
(A) the local educational agency, will provide for the equitable participation of students and professional staff in private schools consistent with
(B) that
(9) Supplanting
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain an assurance that the local educational agency will, for the duration of the grant of authority, use funds consolidated under
(10) Annual reports
The local flexibility demonstration agreement shall contain an assurance that the local educational agency shall, not later than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary enters into the agreement, and annually thereafter during the term of the agreement, disseminate widely to parents and the general public, transmit to the Secretary, and the State educational agency for the State in which the local educational agency is located, distribute to print and broadcast media, and post on the Internet, a report that includes a detailed description of how the local educational agency used the funds consolidated under the agreement to improve student academic achievement and reduce achievement gaps.
(d) Peer review
The Secretary shall—
(1) establish a peer review process to assist in the review of proposed local flexibility demonstration agreements under this division; and
(2) appoint individuals to the peer review process who are representative of parents, teachers, State educational agencies, and local educational agencies, and who are familiar with educational standards, assessments, accountability, curriculum, instruction and staff development, and other diverse educational needs of students.
(e) Amendment to performance agreement
(1) In general
In each of the following circumstances, the Secretary shall amend a local flexibility demonstration agreement entered into with a local educational agency under this division:
(A) Reduction in scope of local flexibility demonstration agreement
Not later than 1 year after entering into a local flexibility demonstration agreement, the local educational agency seeks to amend the agreement to remove from the scope any program described in
(B) Expansion of scope of local flexibility demonstration agreement
Not later than 1 year after entering into the local flexibility demonstration agreement, a local educational agency seeks to amend the agreement to include in its scope any additional program described in
(2) Approval and disapproval
(A) Deemed approval
A proposed amendment to a local flexibility demonstration agreement pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary unless the Secretary makes a written determination, prior to the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary received the proposed amendment, that the proposed amendment is not in compliance with this division.
(B) Disapproval
The Secretary shall not finally disapprove the proposed amendment, except after giving the local educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
(C) Notification
If the Secretary finds that the proposed amendment is not in compliance, in whole or in part, with this division, the Secretary shall—
(i) give the local educational agency notice and an opportunity for a hearing; and
(ii) notify the local educational agency of the finding of noncompliance and, in such notification, shall—
(I) cite the specific provisions in the proposed amendment that are not in compliance; and
(II) request additional information, only as to the noncompliant provisions, needed to make the proposed amendment compliant.
(D) Response
If the local educational agency responds to the Secretary's notification described in subparagraph (C)(ii) during the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the agency received the notification, and resubmits the proposed amendment with the requested information described in subparagraph (C)(ii)(II), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove such proposed amendment prior to the later of—
(i) the expiration of the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the proposed amendment is resubmitted; or
(ii) the expiration of the 120-day period described in subparagraph (A).
(E) Failure to respond
If the local educational agency does not respond to the Secretary's notification described in subparagraph (C)(ii) during the 45-day period beginning on the date on which the agency received the notification, such proposed amendment shall be deemed to be disapproved.
(3) Treatment of program funds withdrawn from agreement
Beginning on the effective date of an amendment executed under paragraph (1)(A), each program requirement of each program removed from the scope of a local flexibility demonstration agreement shall apply to the use of funds made available under the program by the local educational agency.
(
References in Text
1 See References in Text note below.
§7321a. Consolidation and use of funds
(a) In general
(1) Authority
Under a local flexibility demonstration agreement entered into under this division, a local educational agency may consolidate Federal funds made available to the agency under the provisions listed in subsection (b) of this section and use such funds for any educational purpose permitted under this chapter.
(2) Program requirements
Except as otherwise provided in this division, a local educational agency may use funds under paragraph (1) notwithstanding the program requirements of the program under which the funds were made available to the agency.
(b) Eligible programs
Program funds made available to local educational agencies on the basis of a formula under the following provisions may be consolidated and used under subsection (a) of this section:
(1) Subpart 2 of part A of subchapter II of this chapter.
(2) Subpart 1 of part D of subchapter II of this chapter.
(3) Subpart 1 of part A of subchapter IV of this chapter.
(4) Subpart 1 of part A of subchapter V of this chapter.
(
§7321b. Limitations on administrative expenditures
Each local educational agency that has entered into a local flexibility demonstration agreement with the Secretary under this division may use for administrative purposes not more than 4 percent of the total amount of funds allocated to the agency under the programs included in the scope of the agreement.
(
§7321c. Performance review and penalties
(a) Midterm review
(1) Failure to make adequate yearly progress
If, during the term of a local flexibility demonstration agreement, a local educational agency fails to make adequate yearly progress for 2 consecutive years, the Secretary shall, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, promptly terminate the agreement.
(2) Noncompliance
The Secretary may, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing (including the opportunity to provide information as provided for in paragraph (3)), terminate a local flexibility demonstration agreement under this division if there is evidence that the local educational agency has failed to comply with the terms of the agreement.
(3) Evidence
If a local educational agency believes that the Secretary's determination under this subsection is in error for statistical or other substantive reasons, the local educational agency may provide supporting evidence to the Secretary, and the Secretary shall consider that evidence before making a final early termination determination.
(b) Final review
If, at the end of the 5-year term of a local flexibility demonstration agreement entered into under this division, the local educational agency has not met the requirements described in
(
§7321d. Renewal of local flexibility demonstration agreement
(a) In general
Except as provided in
(b) Notification
The Secretary may not renew a local flexibility demonstration agreement under this division unless, not less than 6 months before the end of the original term of the agreement, the local educational agency seeking the renewal notifies the Secretary of its intention to renew.
(c) Effective date
A renewal under this section shall be effective at the end of the original term of the agreement or on the date on which the local educational agency seeking renewal provides to the Secretary all data required under the agreement, whichever is later.
(
§7321e. Reports
(a) Transmittal to Congress
Not later than 60 days after the Secretary receives a report described in section 7321(b)(10) 1 of this title, the Secretary shall make the report available to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
(b) Limitation
A State in which a local educational agency that has a local flexibility demonstration agreement is located may not require such local educational agency to provide any application information with respect to the programs included within the scope of that agreement other than that information that is required to be included in the report described in section 7321(b)(10) 1 of this title.
(
Change of Name
Committee on Education and the Workforce of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Education and Labor of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.