Mountain Home Public Schools plans to request several waivers from federal education requirements through the Arkansas Department of Education under the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999. The act allows districts to seek exemptions from specific mandates in order to address local priorities while maintaining accountability for student performance.
According to the district, waivers are being sought for four federal requirements:
First, the district will request a waiver for the Time-and-Effort Certification Forms requirement. Currently, employees paid entirely through a single federal program must certify how they spend their time twice a year. Eliminating this requirement would reduce administrative work, allowing staff and administrators more time to focus on students and classrooms.
Second, a waiver is being sought for the Title I, Part A 15% Carryover Limitation. Title I, Part A provides supplemental funding for schools with high percentages of low-income students, but current regulations prohibit districts from carrying over more than 15% of these funds to the next fiscal year. The proposed flexibility would allow the district to roll over unrestricted amounts, enabling multi-year projects like sustained tutoring or literacy initiatives.
Third, the district hopes to waive the Title I, Part A 125% Per-Pupil Allocation Rule. This requirement mandates that districts allocate at least 125% of the average per-pupil amount to schools with lower poverty rates. If approved, this waiver would permit funding distribution based on specific student and school needs rather than a fixed percentage formula.
Finally, the district seeks a waiver of the Title IV, Part A required spending categories. Districts receiving $30,000 or more in Title IV-A funds currently face minimum spending thresholds: 20% for well-rounded education, 20% for safe and healthy students, and an unspecified percentage for educational technology. Waiving these requirements would grant the district flexibility to allocate funds toward its highest-priority areas.
The district states that these changes aim to maximize resources while minimizing time spent on compliance paperwork. Officials believe the requested waivers will benefit all schools and students by directing resources where they are needed most.
Community members, including parents, educators, and administrators, are invited to provide feedback on the district’s proposed waiver application. Comments can be submitted to Gwendoline Benton, Federal Programs Director, via email at gbenton@mhbombers.com, by mail at 2465 Rodeo Dr, Mountain Home, AR 72653, or in person at the district’s Central Office. The public comment period runs from September 11 through September 21, and all feedback will be included in the final application submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education.