WASHINGTON, D.C. - Local school districts could get relief from nearly all federal education requirements in exchange for better results for students under a new “super local flex” amendment being offered by conservative GOP Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH) and moderate GOP Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE). The amendment was made in order Wednesday night by the House Rules Committee as the U.S. House of Representatives prepares for action on H.R. 1, President Bush’s No Child Left Behind education bill.

            “I commend Pat Tiberi and Mike Castle for crafting this amendment, which will provide even greater freedom and red tape relief for local school districts,” House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) said. “Local control is one of the four pillars of President Bush’s education plan. The Tiberi/Castle amendment should win additional support for the President’s bill from across the political spectrum.”

            “As the author of the Ed Flex law, I strongly believe that schools and students cannot make progress toward educational success unless they are given the flexibility they need to address the needs of their particular community and school,” said Castle, chairman of the Education Reform subcommittee. “Just as no two students are the same, no two school districts are the same and red tape from the federal government only stands in the way of achievement and progress. Super local flex will strengthen H.R. 1 by enabling select school districts to tailor their resources toward their particular needs.”

            "I’m really excited about this proposal because it enhances one of the core goals of H.R. 1. Our amendment empowers people in local school districts, the people who are involved on the front lines in educating kids and who know best how to meet the challenges they face on a daily basis,” said Tiberi, vice-chairman of the Select Education subcommittee.

            The committee-approved version of H.R. 1 includes an unprecedented local flexibility provision that would allow local school districts to transfer up to 50 percent of the federal education dollars they receive among a host of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) programs. The Tiberi/Castle “super local flex” amendment would allow 100 school districts in 50 states to enter into performance agreements with the Secretary of Education that would provide near-total relief from all federal education rules and requirements. Under these agreements, participating school districts could consolidate programs and be relieved of the burden of restrictive federal rules and red tape.

· Like 1999’s bipartisan “Ed Flex” law, which began as a demonstration program in 12 states, school districts participating in performance agreements will be on the cutting edge, demonstrating to other states and districts what can be accomplished with additional flexibility and accountability. “Super Local Flex” is built on the notion that states and school districts who wish to negotiate a higher level of performance in exchange for flexibility should be free to do so. School districts should be able to focus resources on what has proven to be effective, not forced to comply with federal requirements that have little to do with improving student performance.

· Coupled with the “Local A’s”/transferability provision already included in the committee-approved version of H.R. 1, which is available to all districts, states and school districts across the nation will have new flexibility options in addressing the unique learning needs of their students. These agreements free districts to put academic results, rather than rules and regulations, at the center of K-12 programs.

· No school district has to participate. For three years, two districts per state may participate. After three years, if fewer than 100 agreements have been granted, more than two school districts may participate, up to a total of 100 agreements.

· Works on the same premise as charter schools --freedom in return for academic results. School districts would enter into a five-year agreement with the Secretary of Education.

· School districts lose their flexibility in five years if they do not meet their goals, and in three years if they fail to make adequate yearly progress for three years in a row.

· Private schools and home schools have the same protections as current law. Civil rights requirements are not affected, nor are fiscal accountability and maintenance of effort requirements.

· If a school district chooses to participate, it does not affect the amount of federal resources it receives; the same formulas apply.

· Included programs: Title II (Teachers), Title IVA(Block Grant), Title VA (Safe and Drug Free Schools), Title VB (Technology). Title I and Title IIIA (Bilingual) would not be included.

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