February 9, 2012

Honorable John Barge

Superintendent of Schools

State Department of Education

2066 Twin Towers East

205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE

Atlanta, GA 30334

Dear Superintendent Barge:

I am pleased to approve Georgia’s request for ESEA flexibility, subject to Georgia’s meeting the condition described below. I congratulate you on submitting a request that demonstrates Georgia’s commitment to improving academic achievement and the quality of instruction for all of the State’s elementary and secondary school students.

Last fall, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) offered States the opportunity to request flexibility from certain requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, in exchange for rigorous and comprehensive plans designed to improve educational outcomes for all students, close achievement gaps, increase equity, and improve the quality of instruction. This flexibility is intended to support the groundbreaking reforms already taking place in many States and districts that we believe hold promise for improving outcomes for students. We are encouraged by the innovative thinking and strong commitment to improving achievement for all students that is evident in Georgia’s request.

Our decision to approve Georgia’s request for ESEA flexibility, subject to Georgia’s meeting the condition described below, is based on our determination that the request meets the four principles articulated in the Department’s September 23, 2011, document titled ESEA Flexibility. In particular, Georgia has: (1) demonstrated that it has college- and career-ready expectations for all students; (2) developed, and has a high-quality plan to implement, a system of differentiated recognition, accountability, and support for all Title I districts and schools in the State; (3) committed to developing, adopting, piloting, and implementing teacher and principal evaluation and support systems that support student achievement; and (4) provided an assurance that it will evaluate and, based on that evaluation, revise its administrative requirements to reduce duplication and unnecessary burden on districts and schools. Our decision is also based on Georgia’s assurance that it will meet these four principles by implementing the high-quality plans and other elements of its request as described in its request and in accordance with the required timelines. In approving Georgia’s request, we have taken into consideration the feedback we received from the panel of peer experts and Department staff who reviewed Georgia’s request, as well as Georgia’s revisions to its request in response to that feedback.

The waivers that comprise ESEA flexibility are being granted to Georgia pursuant to my authority in section 9401 of the ESEA. A complete list of the statutory provisions being waived is set forth in the table enclosed with this letter. Consistent with section 9401(d)(1) of the ESEA, I am granting waivers of these provisions through the end of the 2012-2013 school year. If Georgia meets the condition described below prior to the end of the 2012–2013 school year, I will extend the approval of these waivers through the end of the 2013–2014 school year, at which time Georgia may request an extension of these waivers.

In the coming days, you will receive a letter from Michael Yudin, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, containing additional information regarding Georgia’s implementation of ESEA flexibility, as well as information regarding monitoring and reporting. Please note that the Department will closely monitor Georgia’s implementation of the plans, systems, and interventions detailed in its request in order to ensure that all students continue to receive the assistance and supports needed to improve their academic achievement.

Our decision to place a condition on the approval of Georgia’s request is based on the fact that Georgia will use the 2012-2013 school year to study and refine its College- and Career-Ready Performance Index (CCRPI), which will be an integral part of its new differentiated recognition, accountability, and support system. However, we have determined that Georgia is able to fully meet the ESEA flexibility principles in the 2012–2013 school year while it continues to finalize the CCRPI.

To receive approval to implement ESEA flexibility through the end of the 2013–2014 school year, Georgia must submit to the Department for review and approval an amended request incorporating the final version of the CCRPI, including by attaching to the amended request any technical documentation, administrative rules, and other relevant information.  If Georgia does not submit for review an amended request that includes the final version of the CCRPI or does not receive approval of the amended request, the waivers being granted to Georgia through ESEA flexibility will expire at the end of the 2012–2013 school year, and Georgia and its districts will be required to immediately resume complying with all ESEA requirements.

Georgia continues to have an affirmative responsibility to ensure that it and its districts are in compliance with Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age in their implementation of ESEA flexibility as well as their implementation of all other Federal education programs. These laws include Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

A copy of Georgia’s approved request for ESEA flexibility will be posted on the Department’s Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility/requests. Again, I congratulate you on the approval of Georgia’s request for ESEA flexibility and thank you for the work that you and your staff have done. I look forward to continuing to support you as you implement Georgia’s ESEA flexibility request and work to improve the quality of instruction and academic achievement for all students.

Sincerely,

/s/

Arne Duncan

Enclosure

cc: Governor Nathan Deal

Martha Reichrath, Deputy Superintendent