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Ed-Flex Waiver

 

 

South Madison Community School Corporation

 

Public Notice of Ed-Flex Waiver Application and Request for Public Comment

Notice Date: November 7, 2024
Subject: Draft Application for Ed-Flex Waiver Under 20 U.S.C § 5891b(a)(7)


South Madison Community School Corporation (SMCSC) is pursuing an Ed-Flex Waiver to support staffing needs and enhance student achievement. Specifically, SMCSC is applying for Waiver Option 2, which allows for increased flexibility in paraprofessional qualification requirements.

Available Ed-Flex Waivers under the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE)
Approved by the U.S. Department of Education, the following waivers are accessible to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in Indiana:

  1. Waiver 1: Increased Title I carryover limit from 15% to 25%.
  2. Waiver 2: Increased flexibility in paraprofessional qualification requirements.
  3. Waiver 3: Exclusively for the Indiana Department of Corrections.
  4. Waiver 4: Increased flexibility in Title IV spending requirements for LEAs with allocations over $30,000.

This is Indiana’s second Ed-Flex Waiver opportunity, valid until the 2028-2029 school year. LEAs are required to apply annually. SMCSC is specifically requesting Waiver 2 and invites public input on this application.

NOTE REGARDING OTHER WAIVERS: Each year, SMCSC budgets to expend the Title I grant with minimal carryover. Assuming no major staffing issues with Title I, the allocation is expended annually. No waiver 1 is necessary at this time. Waiver 3 does not apply to a school district. SMCSC does not qualify for Waiver 4 as our district allocation is under $30,000. 


Background on Paraprofessional Qualifications
Under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, instructional paraprofessionals working in Title I-funded schools must meet specific qualifications at the time of hire. Paraprofessionals funded by Title I in Targeted Assistance Schools (TAS) and all paraprofessionals in Title I Schoolwide Programs (SWP) must possess a secondary school diploma and either:

  • 2 years of college coursework,
  • A passing score of 460 or higher on the ParaPro Exam, or
  • A Child Development Associate (CDA) credential.

Indiana’s new Ed-Flex Waiver extends these qualification pathways to include additional criteria for paraprofessionals in LEAs through 2029.

Current South Madison Qualifications for Paraprofessionals

  • Secondary school diploma
  • One or more of the following:
    • Complete 2 years of college coursework,
    • Passing Para Pro Exam score,
    • Child Development Associate (CDA) credential,
    • Minimum of 1 year or 1000 hours of prior experience in a school or working with children.
    • Completion of district training modules

As with all positions at SMCSC, an annual evaluation is completed at the school level.

Proposed South Madison Qualifications for Paraprofessionals

The proposed waiver application maintains South Madison’s established paraprofessional qualification requirements and hiring process, which include:

  • Secondary school diploma
  • One or more of the following:
    • Complete 2 years of college coursework,
    • Passing Para Pro Exam score,
    • Child Development Associate (CDA) credential,
    • Minimum of 1 year or 1000 hours of prior experience in a school or working with children.
    • Completion of district training modules with the minimum outcome of Satisfactory (i.e. Exceeds qualifications or Meets qualifications)

Public Comment Process
SMCSC welcomes community feedback on the proposed waiver application. Please review the draft application and submit comments online at Feedback Form. Additionally, as with all board agenda items, community members were allowed to offer public input on this topic at the School Board meeting on November 7, 2024.

All submitted feedback will be reviewed by the Ed-Flex Application Committee. A summary of the input will be shared on the district website following the School Board meeting and public feedback survey. Comments received will help inform the final application and will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) for further review.

 


 

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful feedback and for being an essential part of this process. A transparent process with community involvement is central to the commitment of the district leadership and Board of School Trustees, as we believe these are key to making decisions that truly benefit our students and educators. Your insights help us shape decisions that better serve our students, empower our educators, and build a supportive learning environment for all. We appreciate your commitment to working together to strengthen our schools and create meaningful opportunities for student success.