News Iowa's Unified Allocation Plan receives first-in-the-nation approval

-- First step in  aligning  federal  education  funding with statewide priorities --  

Governor  Kim Reynolds and the  Iowa  Department of Education today announced that  Iowa  is the first state in the nation to receive federal approval of critical steps to redirect federal resources from compliance to the classroom in its innovative Unified Allocation Plan.  

 

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon made the announcement at Broadway Elementary School in Denison,  Iowa, alongside  Governor  Kim Reynolds and  Iowa  Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow, as part of her Returning Education to the States Tour.  Iowa  is the first state in the nation to receive a ¢â‚¬Å“Returning Education to the States ¢â‚¬ � federal waiver approval.  

 

¢â‚¬Å“This announcement marks an important step toward returning education to the states and putting students first, ¢â‚¬ �  Governor  Reynolds said. ¢â‚¬Å“As the first state in the nation to  submit  a Unified Allocation Plan, and to receive these waivers,  Iowa  now has greater flexibility to focus federal resources on what drives student success, and  we ¢â‚¬â„¢re  well positioned to do so. I look forward to continuing to improve student outcomes, reduce red tape for schools, support teachers, and ensure federal education dollars are focused toward state and local priorities where they make the greatest difference. ¢â‚¬ �  

 

Today ¢â‚¬â„¢s approval marks the first step in fully realizing  Iowa ¢â‚¬â„¢s comprehensive Unified Allocation Plan, providing flexibility of certain requirements under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA).  Iowa ¢â‚¬â„¢s first-in-the-nation plan  seeks  to focus more federal resources on improving student achievement over federal compliance. The flexibilities provided by the waiver announced today will reduce some of these compliance costs, allowing  nearly $8 million  in time and resources to be redirected from compliance to the classroom over four years.  

 

¢â‚¬Å“Recognizing the remarkable results  Iowa  has delivered for students over the past two years, we are honored to be the first state in the nation to forge this path forward, aligning federal resources to what's working in  Iowa, expanding local flexibility to best serve students most in need of support, and rightsizing administrative workloads, ¢â‚¬ � said  Iowa  Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. ¢â‚¬Å“We are grateful to each of the administrators, teachers, and  Iowans whose experience and  expertise  shaped  Iowa ¢â‚¬â„¢s innovative Unified Allocation Plan, which reflects our collective focus on accountability for student outcomes. Alongside them and the U.S. Department of Education, we look forward to continuing our work to refocus federal resources on their true purpose—the success of all learners. ¢â‚¬ �