ESEA flexibility: Frequently asked questions

The U.S. Department of Education has invited each State educational agency (SEA) to request flexibility regarding specific requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive State-developed plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. These inlcude: 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Bureau of Indian Education submitted requests for ESEA flexibility; and 43 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are approved for ESEA flexibility (see the list of peer reviewers).