Guidance on flexibility and waivers for SEAs, LEAs, postsecondary institutions, and other grantee and program participants in responding to pandemic influenza (H1N1 Virus)

The US Department of Education has issued guidance that discusses waivers from federal education requirements that may provide state or local educational institutions with the operational flexibility necessary to efficiently close schools and otherwise respond to the administrative challenges presented by a potential H1N1 outbreak such as: prolonged school closures, excessive absenteeism, or other disruptions in the regular delivery of educational services to students for a prolonged period of time.  The document contains advisory information on six sections: Elementary and Secondary education issues, adult education and career and technology issues, Federal Student Aid and other postsecondary education issues, grant administration requirements, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) issues, and distribution of flu vaccines at school facilities.  This new flexibility may be present in accountability and reporting requirements which are normally required by the US Department of Education. This waiver also allows schools to delay implementing school improvement requirements for a period of one year, and it addresses concerns for IEPs and Special Education student services which may be disrupted due to closures.

Guidance
NSBA H1N1 Virus Planning for Schools page