The Trump administration has granted Iowa a first-of-its-kind waiver, allowing state officials to consolidate several federal education programs into a single block grant, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced Wednesday.
The move gives Iowa officials the authority to determine how to distribute federal funds that were previously earmarked for specific categories, including teacher training, English language learners, after-school programs and student achievement initiatives.
McMahon, who made the announcement in Denison, said the decision aligns with the administration’s broader goal of shifting the responsibility for education from the federal government back to the states.
Iowa is the first state to apply for and receive this type of flexibility. In addition to the block grant, the Department of Education granted the state authority to waive certain federal requirements for career and technical programs in local school districts.
Gov. Kim Reynolds praised the decision, stating that the waiver allows the state to bypass federal mandates and focus resources on Iowa’s specific needs.
