From: Honeysett, Adam
[mailto:Adam.Honeysett@ed.gov]
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 9:33 AM
Subject: ED Review (09/09/05)
ED
REVIEW
September
9, 2005
...a
bi-weekly update on
_______________________________________________________________________________________
HURRICANE KATRINA
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's
devastation, following the initial effort by federal, state, and local
authorities to provide basic support like food, shelter, and medical care, the
Education Department has taken concrete steps to help
· First,
in an August 31 conference call with media, Deputy Secretary Ray Simon and
Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education Henry Johnson pledged
"the red tape will be put in the drawer," including relief from key
requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act and federal student aid. "The
Secretary has authority to enter into flexibility agreements, to grant waivers
for occurrences such as this," the Deputy Secretary said. "One
thing we certainly will do is to allow states to apply for flexibility on
behalf of their districts.... We'll make this process as seamless and
quick as possible." (Later, in a September 7 letter to Chief State
School Officers, http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/050907.html,
the Secretary specified four core areas where flexibility and/or resources are
available: waivers and modifications, highly qualified teacher requirements,
the reallocation of funds, and supplemental appropriations. Requests will
be evaluated on an individualized, case-by-case basis.)
· Second,
as states and districts began to address the needs of displaced students, the
agency encouraged them to review previously issued guidance on the
McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program (http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/legislation.html#guidance),
which ensures homeless children a free, appropriate public education and
requires districts and schools to remove barriers to their enrollment,
attendance, and success at school. Also, the Department encouraged
colleges and universities to admit students from affected institutions in a
manner that permits them to receive federal student aid (http://ifap.ed.gov/eannouncements/katrina.html).
· Third,
on September 6, Secretary Spellings unveiled a web site, Hurricane Help for
Schools (http://www.ed.gov/Katrina/),
aimed at getting supplies to schools serving students affected by
Katrina. On one part of the web site, schools are able to post their
contact information and the supplies the students need. Companies and
organizations are able to view these needs and contact the schools to meet
them, or, on another part of the site, they may post what supplies or resources
they can offer. Also, the Secretary has convened a task force of 50
national education organizations to coordinate and deploy resources.
Meanwhile, the agency is in ongoing contact
with state and local education officials and will act promptly as issues
arise. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE GO TO http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/factsheet.html. (Secretary Spellings' September 6
"Ask the White House" chat, detailing the response effort, is
available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20050906.html.)