U.S. Department of Education Announces Additional Measures to Reduce Federal Burden on States
May 19, 2026
Under President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, the Department of Education (ED) is advancing its commitment to return education to the states by expanding access to longstanding federal flexibilities.
Today, ED announced it has approved Florida and Illinois’ Ed-Flex applications, marking a record high number of 18 states now utilizing Ed-Flex authority. Ed-Flex allows states to waive certain federal requirements that could hinder local efforts to improve education. Under this authority, state education agencies (SEAs) can waive select statutory or regulatory requirements for districts and schools without first having to submit those waivers to the U.S. Department of Education for review and approval. For example, Ed-Flex states can allow districts flexibility on how to spend their Student Support and Academic Enrichment funds, releasing them from rigid spending caps.
ED also sent two pieces of guidance today to all chief state school officers encouraging them to implement existing Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibilities, which: 1) allow states and districts to transfer funds between eligible programs and 2) allow small, rural school districts to use certain federal funds more freely.
