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Federal Education Programs Under ESSA

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was passed in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” The Act emphasizes equal access to education and establishes high standards and accountability. The law authorized federally funded education programs that are administered by the States. In 2015, Congress amended ESEA and reauthorized it as The Every Student Succeeds Act.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Public Law PL 114-95, passed in 2015, reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The purpose of the Act is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close the achievement gap.  ESSA supports standards-based education based on the belief that setting high standards and goals can improve an individual student’s educational achievement.

ESSA Resources:

Request for Public Comment on ESSA Waivers

The expiration of Vermont's ESSA Ed Flex waiver authority is approaching on June 30, 2024. To extend this authority, the US Department of Education (USDOE) requires states to submit a new application. In this regard, the Agency of Education (AOE) is sharing Vermont’s draft Ed Flex Waiver application, prepared by the AOE's Consolidated Federal Programs Team.

AOE’s objective in seeking this waiver authority is to provide maximum permissible flexibility to LEAs to spend their ESSA dollars in ways that are most responsive to emergent local student needs and changing fiscal circumstances.

Your valuable input is sought on this proposed application for renewed Ed Flex waiver authority. Please review the document and address any comments to Deborah Bloom, Assistant Division Director, Federal Education Support Programs, at deborah.bloom@vermont.gov. To ensure its consideration, please submit your feedback no later than February 6, 2024.

Thank you for your participation and commitment to improving education in our state.

Consolidated Federal Programs

Contacts for Federal Education Programs under ESSA

Administration

Anne Bordonaro, FESP Division Director, (802) 828-1388 

Deborah Bloom, FESP Assistant Division Director, (802) 828-1390

Grants Management

Karen Abbott, CFP Grants Manager and CFP Team Lead, (802) 828-4370

Amber Graves, CFP Grants Management Specialist, (802) 828-2509

Title I, Part A & Title I, Part D-(Neglected or Delinquent)

Jessie Murray, State Title I Director, (802) 828-1447

Title II Part A/Migrant Education (Title I Part C)

Megan Kinlock, Title II Part A/Migrant Education State Director, (802) 828-1472

Tammy Pregent, Migrant Education Information Specialist, (802) 828-1450

Title III/ Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students

Stephanie Vogel, State Title III/ EL Program Director, (802) 828-1533

Title IV Part A/Homeless Education

Katy Preston, Title IV Director and State Coordinator for Homeless Education, (802) 828-1468

21st Century Community Learning Centers

Emanuel Betz, 21st CCLC State Coordinator, (802) 828-6977

Ombudsman/Equitable Services

Deborah Bloom, FESP Assistant Division Director, (802) 828-1390