PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
Brookland Public Schools Ed-Flex Waiver Application
Brookland Public Schools intends to apply to the Arkansas Department of Education for one or more waivers of federal requirements under the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (20 U.S.C. § 5891b). Ed-Flex allows the Department to waive certain federal requirements for individual districts and schools so they can better meet local needs while remaining accountable for student performance. The district is requesting the following waiver[s]:
Time-and-Effort Certification Forms Federal requirement waived: 2 C.F.R. § 200.430(g). The district is asking that this requirement be waived because employees paid entirely by a single federal program must currently sign paperwork twice a year confirming how they spent their time. This flexibility removes the certification requirement for those employees.
Expected benefit for students: Staff and administrators spend less time on federal paperwork and more time supporting students and classrooms.
Title I, Part A — 125% Per-Pupil Allocation Rule Federal requirement waived: ESEA § 1113(c)(2)(A); 34 C.F.R. § 200.78(b).
The district is asking that this requirement be waived because normally, when some schools have lower poverty rates, a district must give each Title I school at least 125% of its average per-student Title I amount. This flexibility lets the district set per-student amounts based on need rather than a fixed formula.
Expected benefit for students: Title I dollars can better align with student needs, directing more support to the schools and students who need it most.
Title I, Part A — 40% Schoolwide Eligibility Threshold Federal requirement waived: ESEA § 1114(a)(1).
The district is asking that this requirement be waived because normally, a school needs a poverty rate of at least 40% to run a “schoolwide” Title I program, which lets it use Title I funds to benefit all students in the building rather than only identified students. This flexibility allows schools with a poverty rate below 40% to run a schoolwide program.
Expected benefit for students: More schools can use Title I funds flexibly to strengthen instruction for every student in the building.
Parents, educators, school administrators, and other interested community members are invited to comment on this proposed waiver request. Comments may be submitted to Chris Moss by email at cmoss@bpsbearcats.com, by mail at 200 W. School St. Brookland, AR, 72417, or in person at 601 N. Holman St. Brookland, AR, 72417. Comments will be accepted from 08/31/2026 through 09/11/2026. All comments received will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education with the district’s application