PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT
Helena-West Helena School District
2026–2027 Ed-Flex Waiver Application
Date Posted: September 18, 2026
The Helena-West Helena School District intends to apply to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) for Ed-Flex flexibility available through the Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999 (20 U.S.C. § 5891b).
Ed-Flex provides school districts with an opportunity to request flexibility from certain federal requirements in order to better address identified local needs while remaining accountable for student performance.
Waivers Requested
The Helena-West Helena School District is requesting the following Ed-Flex waivers:
1. Time-and-Effort Certification Forms — 2 C.F.R. § 200.430(g)
This flexibility waives the time-certification documentation requirement for employees working on a single cost objective.
Expected Benefit: Reducing unnecessary administrative paperwork will allow staff and administrators to dedicate additional time and attention to supporting scholars, classrooms, and instructional priorities.
2. Title I, Part A — 15% Carryover Limitation — ESEA § 1127
This flexibility waives the restriction on the amount of Title I, Part A funds that the District may carry over from one fiscal year to the next.
Expected Benefit: Greater flexibility with carryover funds will allow the District to strategically plan and sustain investments in academic interventions, instructional programs, tutoring, literacy, and other supports designed to improve student achievement.
3. Title IV, Part A — Content-Area Spending Apportionment — ESEA § 4106(e)
This flexibility waives the required minimum percentages that a district must spend across well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, and educational technology categories.
Expected Benefit: This flexibility will allow the District to direct Title IV, Part A resources toward its highest-priority student needs rather than being limited by predetermined spending percentages.
Purpose of the Request
The Helena-West Helena School District believes these flexibilities will provide greater local discretion in the administration and use of federal resources. The District intends to use this flexibility to better align available resources with its comprehensive needs assessment, district goals, instructional priorities, and the individual needs of our scholars.
The District remains accountable for student performance and is committed to ensuring that increased flexibility results in resources being directed toward strategies and supports designed to improve academic outcomes.
Opportunity for Public Comment
Parents, educators, school administrators, and other interested community members are invited to provide comments regarding the Helena-West Helena School District’s proposed Ed-Flex waiver application.
Comments may be submitted to:
Bonita Mills
Federal Programs
Helena-West Helena School District
Email: bmills@hwhschools.org
Phone: 870-338-4425
All comments received during the established public comment period will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Education with the District’s Ed-Flex application.
The Helena-West Helena School District remains committed to strategically and responsibly using federal resources to support our scholars and advance our commitment from Promise to Performance.
Dr. Xavier M. Hodo, Sr.