U.S. Department of Education Announces Hurricane Flexibility Guidance
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.