Ed-Flex Program: Increase in Flexibility Useful but Limited by Scope of Waiver Authority

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the Education Flexibility Partnership Demonstration Program (Ed-Flex), which authorizes 12 states to grant waivers (temporary exceptions from certain federal requirements) to their local school districts, focusing on: (1) the scope and limitations of the current Ed-Flex waiver authority; (2) opportunities for expansion to more states under current eligibility requirements; and (3) the challenges posed for the Ed-Flex program of balancing the two objectives of achieving federal program oversight and offering flexibility to state and local school districts.