Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

U.S. Department of Education Announces Hurricane Flexibility Guidance

  • 09/22/17

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.

 

Featured

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • Ohio State University Opens 26-Story Hospital

    The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently opened in Columbus, Ohio, standing 26 stories and covering 1.9 million square feet, according to a university news release. The project marks ten years of effort and is the university’s largest single-facility construction project ever.