U.S. Department of
Education Announces Hurricane Flexibility Guidance
As
part of its ongoing work to aid hurricane relief efforts, today the Department
of Education released new non-regulatory guidance to help Department grantees
and program participants remove barriers to restoring teaching and learning
environments and to expediting the recovery process for all those impacted by
the recent hurricanes.
“For
children of affected families, returning to school can provide stability in a
time of upheaval as they reconstruct their lives,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “The
Department will continue to provide whatever
flexibility and support it can to help ensure stakeholders have the resources
they need to get these students back into the classroom as quickly as
possible.”
The
newly released guidance provides support to state and local educational
agencies, Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools, postsecondary institutions
and other Department grantees and program participants in a variety of ways,
while also covering topics specific to program areas.
Examples
of such supports include:
- Flexibility on reporting deadlines,
timelines for grant-funded activities and maintenance of fiscal effort or
matching requirements.
- Potential alternatives and strategies
for providing program services after disruption.
-
Suggested methods for ensuring
continuity of services and communication with program participants.
To
view the Non-Regulatory Guidance on Flexibility and Waivers for Grantees and
Program Participants Impacted by Federally Declared Disasters, click here.
All
interested parties are urged to contact the Department of Education with any
requests for assistance beyond the scope of the documents released today.
The Department is committed to collaborating with impacted parties, as well as
other federal, state and local agencies to remove barriers and expedite the
work necessary to respond to and recover from the recent hurricanes.
It
is important to emphasize that this guidance addresses only federal
requirements and flexibilities and that only state and local officials can
address state and local requirements and flexibilities.
For
additional resources on natural disasters click here.
Click here for a list of U.S. Department of Education
Hurricane Flexibility and Waiver Guidance Program points of contact.
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