ESEA Flexibility Community Stakeholder Meetings

TO:                 District Superintendents

FROM:          Mick Zais, State Superintendent of Education

DATE:            September 27, 2012

SUBJECT:     ESEA Flexibility Community Stakeholder Meetings

On October 10, 2011, I emailed to you a copy of a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan informing him of the State’s intent to seek a waiver from certain requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) established a process for States to request such flexibility and deadlines when requests could be submitted.  The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) submitted an ESEA Flexibility Request on February 28, 2012.  It was approved on July 19, 2012.

As part of the SCDE’s continued engagement of stakeholders, the Department will hold a statewide virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 3 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm.  The purpose of this meeting is to provide an update on the implementation of the ESEA Flexibility Request.  The public will have the opportunity to submit questions during the meeting and the Department will answer them, time permitting.

In addition to the statewide virtual meeting, the SCDE will host five regional community stakeholder meetings across the state.  The SCDE will contact school districts when locations for these meetings are finalized.  A final schedule of community stakeholder meetings will be sent to all school districts.

Please share this information with your teachers, principals, administrators, and school board members.  Most importantly, please share it with your students, parents, and the public you serve by posting the following links on your website.

Link to watch the October 3, 2012 statewide virtual meeting and submit questions: http://ed.sc.gov/events/esea/

Link to review all documents and presentations regarding the ESEA Flexibility Request: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/lpa/ESEAFlexibility.cfm