| ACTION REQUIRED |
November 15, 1999
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Ed-Flex Waiver Evaluation, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000
Texas school districts implementing Education Flexibility Demonstration Partnership Program (Ed-Flex) waivers effective for the 1998-1999 school year were able to develop innovative educational programs designed to meet the local needs of students. As of August 31, 1999, the Commissioner of Education had approved one or more programmatic waivers for over 500 districts. Ed-Flex programmatic waivers are designed to provide districts with greater flexibility in exchange for increased accountability for results.
Analysis of 1998-1999 student performance using the data from the state accountability system indicates that the district did not meet the desired performance results required in the approval letter for its Ed-Flex programmatic waiver(s). Enclosed is an evaluation form to be completed by the district for each campus which received one or more Ed-Flex programmatic waivers and which did not achieve the desired performance gains as stated in the district's approval letter. Information on which campuses are to be included in this evaluation is attached. All evaluation forms are due back to the agency no later than January 14, 2000. A time line for evaluation activities for waivers effective for the 1998-1999 school year is enclosed for reference. For planning purposes, a time line for evaluation of waivers effective for the 1999-2000 school year is also enclosed.
Districts are not required to take any further action at this time regarding statewide administrative waivers. Data available to the state will be used to evaluate the administrative statewide waivers.
The district must receive technical assistance from a school support team or other provider as a condition for continuing to implement the waiver during the remainder of the 1999-2000 school year. The technical assistance received must address factors, as identified by the district on the attached evaluation form, that impeded the achievement of desired performance gains. The local board of trustees, through appropriate site-based decision-making processes, must ensure that any needed modifications are made in the program design so that desired gains in student performance are achieved for all students and for all student groups in the subsequent year. The Commissioner of Education will notify the district in the Spring of 2000 as to whether the waiver may be continued in 2000-2001. The district may appeal this decision based upon the Spring 2000 results of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills tests.
If you should have any questions on the evaluation of Ed-Flex programmatic waivers, please contact Dr. Madeleine Draeger Manigold of the State/Federal Waivers and Initiatives Unit at (512) 463-9077.
Sincerely,
Carol V. Francois
Associate Commissioner for the Education of Special Populations
CVF:mdm
For further information on this topic, contact the State/Federal Waivers and Initiatives Unit at (512) 463-9077.