Washington, DC — The Trump Administration has granted Iowa’s waiver request, giving state officials authority to roll federal funds designated for a variety of education programs into one block grant, and state officials will determine how the money is distributed.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon made the announcement in Denison.
Governor Kim Reynolds says the waiver lets Iowa focus federal funds on the right work.
McMahon says the waiver fits the Trump Administration’s vision of returning responsibility for educating children to the states.
Iowa is the first state to apply for and get this kind of a waiver. It combines into a single block grant federal funding that had previously been designated for teacher training, English language learners, after-school programs and classroom efforts to improve student achievement.
McMahon’s agency has also granted state officials authority to waive some federal requirements for career and technical programs in Iowa school districts.
The Education Secretary and Governor Reynolds made their comments after touring an elementary school in Denison and visiting with students.
Test scores at Broadway Elementary in Denison show the literacy rate of students has jumped seven points after the first year of using what’s known as “the science of reading” curriculum.
KIWA Staff Photo
