PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
Marion School District Ed-Flex Waiver Application
Marion 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
Federal requirement waived: 2 C.F.R. § 200.430(g)
The district is asking that this requirement be waived so that employees who are paid entirely by a single federal fund would not be required to sign paperwork twice a year to confirm how their time is spent. The district expects this waiver to result in staff and administrators spending less time on federal paperwork and more time supporting students and classrooms.
Title I, Part A — 15% Carryover Limitation
Federal requirement waived: ESEA § 1127(a)
The district is asking that this requirement be waived since Title I, Part A provides extra funding for schools serving more students from low-income families, and normally, a district may carry no more than 15% of that funding into the next year. This waiver would allow the district to carry over any amount. The district expects this waiver to result in the district being able to combine funds across years for larger, sustained investments instead of rushing to spend by a deadline.
Title IV, Part A — Required Spending Categories
Federal requirement waived: ESEA § 4106(e)
The district is asking that this requirement be waived since 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 waiver would remove those minimums, allowing the district to focus on specific needs. The district expects this waiver to result in being able to direct Title IV-A funds to the highest-priority student needs rather than fixed percentages.
Parents, educators, school administrators, and other interested community members are invited to comment on this proposed waiver request.
Comments may be submitted to Ruth Hegwood-Mills, Director of Federal Programs, through this online form. Comments will be accepted from August 27, 2026, through September 5, 2026. The online form will be posted on the school webpage at https://www.msd3.org/.
All comments received will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education with the district’s application.
Marion ED-Flex Waiver Request Public Comment Form:
The form will open on August 27, and close on September 5, 2026.
Click here to access the online public comment form.