Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) is preparing to complete the application for the Ed-Flex Waiver provision allowed for Title IV funding obligations under Section 4106(e)(2)(C-E) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
This waiver allows the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to waive the requirement for local educational agencies (LEAs), including LCS, to spend at least 20% of Title IV, Part A funds within designated content areas. Virginia will continue to maintain the Special Rule for the Effective Use of Technology under ESSA Section 4109, which states that no more than 15% of funds used for Effective Use of Technology may be spent on technology infrastructure.
Background Information
Ed-Flex was created through the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-25), reauthorized in the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), and incorporated at 20 U.S.C. 5891b. This provision allows increased flexibility for LEAs, state educational agencies (SEAs), and schools in the implementation of federal education programs in exchange for enhanced accountability for student performance.
Why Is LCS Seeking the Ed-Flex Waiver?
If approved, the Ed-Flex waiver will allow LCS to reallocate Title IV, Part A grant funds to spend more or less than the currently required 20% within the targeted content areas of Safe and Healthy Students and/or Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities.
As the division continues to monitor trends in attendance, mental health, behavior, and academic performance, the waiver will allow LCS to respond more efficiently and direct resources toward evolving student needs throughout the school year.
If LCS enacts a reallocation of funds under an approved waiver, the division will report performance data to VDOE demonstrating the impact of the shift in resources.
Public Comment Opportunity
Stakeholders, including parents, educators, staff, community members, and other interested parties, are invited to submit public comments regarding the proposed waiver application.
Comments should be submitted through the form below by the end of the day on June 18, 2026:
Ed-Flex Waiver Public Comment Form
All comments received during the public comment period will be included as part of the waiver application submitted to VDOE. Comments submitted by the public will be made available for review upon request by contacting the Department of Finance at (434) 515-5010.