Indiana Seeks Federal Waiver To Streamline Education Funding, Boost Student Success

The Indiana Department of Education has submitted a federal waiver request seeking relief from specific provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to reduce bureaucracy and give schools more flexibility to focus on student success. Governor Mike Braun and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner praised the move, emphasizing the state's leadership in education and innovation and the desire to return control of education to the state level. The waiver aims to streamline federal funding by consolidating multiple grants into block grants, adopt a single accountability system based on Indiana's A-F state model, and create an Innovation Fund to redirect school improvement resources more flexibly. Indiana highlights recent academic achievements, including a historic 5-point increase in third-grade literacy, climbing to sixth in national reading rankings, significant math proficiency gains, and the highest graduation rate on record. The state argues that these flexibilities will help remove federal barriers and accelerate progress for students, with changes planned to start in the 2026-2027 school year if approved. The waiver request reflects Indiana's commitment to empowering parents, reducing administrative burdens for educators, and supporting vulnerable students more effectively.