Public Notice and Opportunity to Comment
Hope School District Ed-Flex Waiver Application
Hope School District intends to apply to the Arkansas Department of Education for one or more waivers of federal requirements under the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (20 U.S.C. 5891b). Ed-Flex allows the Department to waive certain federal requirements for individual districts and schools so they can better meet local needs while remaining accountable for student performance.
The district is requesting the following waivers:
Time-and-Effort Certification Forms
Title I, Part A - 15% Carryover Limitation
Title I, Part A - 125% Per-Pupil Allocation Rule
Title I, Part A - 40% Schoolwide Eligibility Threshold
Title IV, Part A - Required Spending Categories
Parents, educators, school administrators, and other interested community members are invited to comment on this proposed waiver request.
Comments may be submitted at this link. Comments will be accepted from September 16, 2026 through September 30, 2026.
All comments received will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education with the district's application.
Time-and-Effort Certification Forms | Title I, Part A - 15% Carryover Limitation | Title I, Part A - 125% Per-Pupil Allocation Rule |
|---|---|---|
Federal requirement waived: 2 C.F.R. 200.430(g) | Federal requirement waived: ESEA 1127(a) | Federal requirement waived: ESEA 1113(c)(2)(A); 34 C.F.R. 200.78(b) |
Employees paid entirely by a single federal program must currently sign paperwork twice a year confirming how they spend their time. This flexibility removes the certification requirement for those employees. | Title I, Part A provides extra funding for schools serving more students from low-income families. Normally, a district may carry no more than 15% of that funding into the next year. This flexibility lets the district carry over any amount. | Normally, when some schools have lower poverty rates, a district must give each Title I school at least 125% of its average per-student Title I amount. This flexibility lets the district set per-student amounts based on need rather than a fixed formula. |
Expected benefit for students: Staff and administrators spend less time on federal paperwork and more time supporting students and classrooms. | Expected benefit for students: This district can combine funds across years for larger, sustained investments, such as multi-year tutoring or literacy program, instead of rushing to spend a deadline. | Expected benefit for students: Title I dollars can better align with student needs, directing more support to the schools and students who need it most. |
Title I, Part A - 40% Schoolwide Eligiblity Threshold | Title IV, Part A - Required Spending Categories |
|---|---|
Federal requirement waived: ESEA 1114(a)(1) | Federal requirement waived: ESEA 4106(e) |
Normally, a school needs a poverty rate of at least 40% to run a "schoolwide" Title I program, which lets ituse Title I funds to benefit all students in the building rather than only identified students. This flexibility allows schools with a poverty rate below 40% to run a schoolwide program. | Normally, a district receiving $30,000 or more in Title IV-A funds must spend at least 20% on well-rounded education, at least 20% on safe and healthy students, and some amount on educational technology. This flexibility removes those minimums, allowing the district to set its own amounts. |
Expected benefit for students: Staff and administrators spend less time on federal paperwork and more time supporting students and classrooms. | Expected benefit for students: The district can direct Title IV-A funds to its highest-priority student needs rather than fixed percentages. |