States Gain Education Funding Flexibility | Pierre News

The Trump administration is rolling out a bold education overhaul, giving states unprecedented control over federal funds—six have already snagged waivers to redirect $109 million, letting them skip rules and focus on core subjects like reading and math. With 22 more states granted Ed-Flex authority—the most ever in the program’s 32-year history—officials argue local leaders know students’ needs best and should steer funding without Washington’s handcuffs. Some are tweaking performance metrics or loosening Title I restrictions, while critics warn of weakened protections, potential fund diversion, and risks to high-need districts. The Department of Education is even incentivizing states leading “Returning Education to the States” initiatives—and whispers of shutting down the entire department add urgency to this power shift. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/32cb55a15e771932