The Department of Education is seeking a federal waiver of certain provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which requires the consolidation of federal funding under the Title VI, Part B-Rural and Low-Income School Program (RLIS).
Generally, public education systems within the outlying U.S. territories have continued to consolidate their federal dollars under the Title V program, which has gone unfunded for a number of years. Given the state of Title V, the federal government has asked the territories to look at other methods of consolidation during the Fiscal Year 2013 grant period, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the V.I. Department of Education.
The RLIS program is currently the best option for the V.I. Department of Education, officials explained Monday. While the transition is made, the waiver will allow the Department to continue to provide funds to local private schools, as required by the U.S. Department of Education.
Federal guidelines stipulate that public notice is to be provided in the event that the Department opts to request a waiver. Additional questions can be directed to the Division of Federal Grants under the V.I. Education Department at 774-0100.
