The Department of Education approved Iowa’s Returning Education to the States Waiver, making it the first state to secure approval. The move allows state officials to exercise discretion over federal education dollars.
According to the Education Department, the waiver will “reduce compliance costs, allowing nearly $8 million to be redirected from bureaucratic red tape to the classroom over four years.” State education leaders can use the funds to “expand support for evidence-based literacy training, strengthening their teacher pipeline, and narrowing achievement gaps.”
“Granting Iowa’s waiver illustrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to returning education to the states by empowering state leaders, who know their students far better than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., to have more discretion over federal education dollars,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will continue to identify avenues to reduce burdensome requirements and maximize flexibility for state leaders to invest in their students. Congratulations to the students and families of Iowa whose innovative Governor and Education Chief are fighting for the best interests and needs of their state.”
Governor of Iowa Kim Reynolds (R) said the waiver “marks an important step toward returning education to the states and putting students first.”
“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’re well positioned to do so,” she said. “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.”
The Department of Education invited states to apply for the waiver in July.
