ATTENTION: Seeking Public Comments Concerning School Waivers

The Candler County Board of Education is seeking several waivers from the Georgia Department of Education in order to spend federal stimulus money (also called ARRA funds) to implement initiatives that will positively impact student achievement. The funds freed up by these waivers will be used to address student needs that were identified based on data. Specifically, the district is seeking to waive the following restrictions on funds it received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA):

• A waiver for Needs Improvement (NI) Schools in the district to be allowed to offer Supplemental Educational Services (SES) or tutoring to students after school.


• A waiver to permit the Board to exclude federal stimulus money from the requirement to spend 20% of its Title 1-A ARRA funds on transportation related to public school choice.


• A waiver to permit the Board to exclude federal stimulus money from the requirement to spend 20% of its Title 1-A ARRA funds for professional development.


• A waiver to permit the Board to exclude all of its Title I-A funds received through ARRA in calculating the per-pupil amount for Supplemental Educational Services (SES). *Note that regular Title 1-A funds will continue to be used in the calculation of the per-pupil amount for SES.


• A waiver to be permitted to waive the carryover limitation more than once within a three year period if needed because of Title 1-A ARRA funds.