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Flexibility Demonstration Programs: Education Needs to Better Target Program Information

GAO-03-691 Published: Jun 09, 2003. Publicly Released: Jun 09, 2003.
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Highlights

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLBA) has focused national attention on increasing accountability for states and school districts to improve student achievement. While increasing accountability, NCLBA also provided states and school districts with additional flexibility. The act established two flexibility demonstration programs--State- and Local-Flex--which allow up to 7 states and 80 school districts to redirect up to 100 percent of certain NCLBA program funds. GAO was asked to determine factors that affect states' and districts' decisions whether or not to apply for the demonstration programs and to determine the extent to which the U.S. Department of Education publicized, provided guidance, and established a process to review and award flexibility demonstration programs. To address these questions, GAO conducted a study, using telephone interviews with officials in 22 states and 37 school districts, and site visits to 2 of the four applicants.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Education The U.S. Department of Education should better target information to states and districts in the best position to apply for additional flexibility. This could include follow-up with states and districts expressing interest in the programs and providing information to states and districts that have met or are close to meeting accountability requirements.
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Education has implemented a number of outreach efforts that provide targeted information on the State-Flex and Local-Flex programs. For example, the Department has established web sites that contain information on the advantages of the program and on the application process. Education has also disseminated information, in print and video, on one district's experience with the program. Moreover, the Department noted its continued commitment to better targeting information to states and school districts and stated that it would continue its efforts to refine strategies for informing potential applicants about the new flexibility authorities and their benefits. Education also said that once state accountability plans are approved, the timing of flexibility competitions should no longer be an issue. Education established open-ended competition for State-Flex and Local-Flex to allow interested agencies to submit an application when they are ready and able to prepare their application, rather than on an externally imposed timetable. The State and Local Flex notice appeared in the Federal Register on March 18, 2004.

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Topics

Aid for educationEducation program evaluationEducational standardsFederal aid to statesFederal fundsState-administered programsStrategic planningLocally administered programsAccountabilityAcademic achievement