Announcements

Public Notice and Comment Period

Waiver Request – Pursuant to Section 4201 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965

February 19, 2026

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) is requesting a Tydings waiver for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2021 of the Title IV, Part B Nita M. Lowey 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (21^st CCLC) grant program, which is a program authorized under section 4201 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). If the waiver is approved, FFY 2021 funding for the grant program will be extended through August 31, 2026. Delaware is requesting the waiver considering the unexpected adjustments in the educational environment, including loss of enrollment, that schools and the 21^st CCLC grantees experienced because of the pandemic. The out-of-school time program shift led to a reduction in programming and planned budgetary expenditures. Approval of the waiver would allow DDOE to extend the grant period for FFY 2021 to: 1) increase the number of students served through the grant; and 2) support program offerings, including summer.

If the waiver request is approved, it would allow DDOE and existing 21^st CCLC programs to continue serving students. Additionally, DDOE will ensure that the fidelity of the 21^st CCLC funded programs operate successfully with continued monitoring and support.

As required under the ESEA section 8401(b((3)(A), prior to submitting a waiver request for any program authorized under ESEA, the State must provide the public and local education agencies (LEAs) with notice and reasonable opportunity to comment and provide input on a proposed waiver request. This communication serves as notice of the DDOE’s intent to submit a Tydings waiver request to the USDE for FFY 2021 of the 21^st CCLC grant program, and as an invitation to the public to provide feedback on the proposed waiver request.

NOTIFICATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

The public comment period will be open from February 19, 2026, until March 5, 2026. Please submit comments to ruth.uhey@doe.k12.de.us. Comments will receive a response from the DDOE and be attached to the waiver request documentation that will be sent to the USDE.