NEWS RELEASES 2009-10

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO SUBMIT WAIVERS' REQUEST TO TITLE I, PART A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS 1003(G)

Notice is hereby given that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) will submit a request for all applicable waivers to requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as it relates to the state's application for School Improvement Grants 1003(g). These waivers would allow any local educational agency (LEA) in the state that receives a School Improvement Grant to use those funds in accordance with the final requirements for School Improvement Grants and the LEA's application for a grant. The NCDPI requests a waiver of the requirements it has listed below.

• Waive section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. § 1225(b)) to extend the period of availability of school improvement funds for the State Educational Agency and all of its LEAs to September 30, 2013.
• Waive section 1116(b)(12) of the ESEA to permit LEAs to allow their Tier I schools that will implement a turnaround or restart model to "start over" in the school improvement timeline.
• Waive the 40 percent poverty eligibility threshold in section 1114(a)(1) of the ESEA to permit LEAs to implement a schoolwide program in a Tier I school that does not meet the poverty threshold.
• Waive sections 1003(g)(1) and (7) of the ESEA that limit the use of school improvement funds to Title I schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring to permit LEAs to use school improvement funds to serve Tier II schools.

The state believes that the requested waiver(s) will increase the quality of instruction for students and improve the academic achievement of students in Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III schools by enabling an LEA to use more effectively the school improvement funds to implement one of the four school intervention models in its Tier I or Tier II schools and to carry out school improvement activities in its Tier III schools. The four school intervention models are specifically designed to raise substantially the achievement of students in the state's persistently lowest-achieving schools.

The public is invited to review and comment on the waivers being requested by Feb 1. Interested persons may present their written comments to:

Donna Brown, Section Chief
Program Monitoring
MSC# 6351
Raleigh, NC 27699-6351

Email: dbrown@dpi.state.nc.us

About the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides leadership to 115 local public school districts and 100 charter schools serving over 1.4 million students in kindergarten through high school graduation. The agency is responsible for all aspects of the state's public school system and works under the direction of the North Carolina State Board of Education.

For more information:
NCDPI Communications and Information, 919.807.3450.