The Tennessee Department of Education has released its draft application for designation as an Ed‑Flex Partnership State under the Educational Flexibility (Ed‑Flex) Program. The Ed‑Flex Program, authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), allows approved states to grant waivers of certain federal and state statutory or regulatory requirements to reduce administrative burden, support local innovation, and improve student outcomes.

Tennessee’s draft application outlines the state’s plan to provide LEAs with greater flexibility in implementing federal programs, particularly in areas such as Title IV, Part A spending requirements and technology infrastructure limitations, while maintaining rigorous accountability aligned to the state’s ESSA plan. The application also describes the processes the state will use to review LEA waiver requests, monitor implementation, and evaluate the impact of waivers on student performance.

The draft Ed‑Flex application is available for public review through April 16, 2026. Parents, educators, school administrators, and community members are invited to read the application and submit comments via this form. Public participation is a required and an important part of the Ed‑Flex process, and feedback will be submitted as part of Tennessee’s final application to the U.S. Department of Education.