The U.S. Department of Education approved Ed-Flex applications for Arizona, Nevada, and South Carolina today, bringing the total number of participating states to 25.
The approvals mean half of the nation’s states now have the authority to waive certain federal education rules directly. Under the Ed-Flex program, state educational agencies can grant regulatory and statutory exemptions to local school districts and charter schools without waiting for federal review or approval. This includes lifting rigid spending caps on programs like Student Support and Academic Enrichment funds.
Federal officials framed the milestone as part of a broader effort to shift administrative power away from Washington and back to state and local leaders.
“Reaching 25 Ed-Flex states is a watershed moment that proves the paradigm is shifting in American education,” said Kirsten Baesler, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. “Innovation does not flow from top-down mandates, but rather it thrives when state and local leaders are given the regulatory freedom to adapt and respond directly to their students. This milestone is a call for every state leader to build on the momentum and prioritize placing decision-making where it belongs – closest to the student.”
State education leaders in all three newly approved states welcomed the decision, citing the ability to cut red tape and allocate federal dollars where they are most needed.
“This is a welcome decision that allows Arizona’s local district and charter schools to have more control over how they spend money for education,” said Tom Horne, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction. “People at the local level have far more knowledge to make good decisions as opposed to out-of-state decision makers. Having Ed-Flex authority will result in better decisions and better use of federal funds to improve student achievement.”
In Nevada, state officials linked the federal green light to ongoing modernization efforts across state government.
“The U.S. Department of Education’s approval of Ed-Flex for Nevada is an important step toward providing more flexibility for our districts and schools in the use of federal Title funding,” said Dr. Victor Wakefield, Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Nevada’s participation in Ed-Flex is the direct result of valuable feedback provided earlier this year during my statewide listening tour and complements broader efforts led by Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Legislature to modernize and streamline processes. Our shared goal is to focus time and resources on what matters most: high-quality teaching and learning.”
South Carolina officials similarly emphasized that reducing administrative friction would directly benefit classroom instruction.
“The best education policies don’t create more hoops to jump through. They create more opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed. That’s exactly what this flexibility allows us to do,” said Ellen Weaver, South Carolina Superintendent of Education. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for approving South Carolina’s Ed-Flex application and for its confidence in our state’s ability to responsibly leverage this flexibility to better support districts, empower educators, and keep the focus where it always belongs: on students and their success.”
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