March 13, 2017

Dear Chief State School Officers:

Thank you for your continued work with State  and local stakeholders to develop thoughtful consolidated State plans in order  to implement the new requirements in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act  of 1965 (ESEA), as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  In my letter of February 10, 2017, I indicated  that the U.S. Department of Education (Department) planned to develop a revised  consolidated State plan template that would require only descriptions,  information, assurances and other materials that were “absolutely  necessary” for consideration of such a plan, consistent with ESEA section  8302(b)(3).  I also noted that I wanted  to ensure that regulations comply with the requirements of the law, provide the  State and local flexibility that Congress intended, and do not impose  unnecessary burdens.  Today, I am pleased  to provide you with the revised template for the consolidated State plan that promotes  innovation, flexibility, transparency and accountability, and reduces burden to  help ensure every child has a chance to learn and succeed.  

States,  along with local educators and parents, are the most critical actors working to  ensure that every child has access to a quality education.  I  am committed to supporting this work by faithfully implementing the ESEA, as  amended by the ESSA, which will help ensure that all students have  access to excellent teachers and positive, safe learning environments with  necessary supports to prepare them for success in college, a career and  life.  Consistent with section 8302(b)(1)  of ESEA, the Department collaborated with State educational agencies (SEAs), as  well as other State and local stakeholders, in developing the revised  consolidated State plan template, which includes only those descriptions and  information that are absolutely necessary for the Department’s consideration of  each State’s plan.  The  streamlined State plan template provides flexibility for State and local  education leaders to do what is best for children, while also maintaining essential  protections for subgroups of students, including economically disadvantaged  students, students with disabilities and English learners.  Each State  plan will provide parents with quality, transparent information about how the  ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, will be implemented in their State so that all  children can reach their full potential.  Parents may use this information to help  choose the right educational environment for their child and to help their  schools and their educational programs grow and improve. 

I recognize  the tremendous work each State, including SEAs and Governors in concert with  the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the National Governors  Association (NGA), already has done in developing its consolidated State plan  and want to ensure that each State has the opportunity to submit a consolidated  State plan that reflects its needs.   Therefore, an SEA may either submit a consolidated State plan using the  revised consolidated State plan template or an alternative template that  addresses each requirement in the revised template and that is developed by the  State working with CCSSO.  For any  program not included in a consolidated State plan, the SEA must submit  individual program State plans that meet the statutory and regulatory  requirements of each respective program.  

An SEA may choose to submit its consolidated State plan or  individual program State plans by either**April 3, 2017**, or**September 18, 2017**.  The Department will conduct two peer review processes  – one following each submission deadline.   To prioritize State flexibility, the Department will engage with chief  State school officers and their staffs and with governors and their staffs as State  plans proceed through the peer review and Secretarial review process. 

|  | Sincerely,  |
|--|-------------|
|  | /s/         |
|  | Betsy DeVos |

Enclosure

cc: Chris Minnich, CCSSO       Scott Pattison, NGA      State Title I Directors      State Title II Directors      State Title III Directors      State Title IV Directors      State Assessment Directors      State 21st Century Community  Learning Center Directors      State Directors for McKinney-Vento  Homeless Assistance Act: Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program