Education Department Approves Ohio's Returning Education to the States Waiver, Consolidating Over $38 Million
The U.S. Department of Education announced on October 30 that it has approved Ohio's Returning Education to the States (RES) Waiver, giving the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) new flexibility to use federal dollars on state priorities and improve student outcomes.
Ohio is the eighth state to receive a RES waiver, joining Iowa, Louisiana, Indiana, Vermont, Arkansas, South Dakota and Mississippi. The waiver allows Ohio to consolidate over $38 million in federal funds through 2029, bringing the total across all eight approved states to over $158 million. ODEW plans to target literacy, accelerated learning, workforce readiness and student wellness.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said Ohio recently posted a five-year high in reading proficiency and that Washington should serve as a partner to state success, not a barrier. ODEW Director Stephen D. Dackin said the waiver lets districts focus resources on literacy, student well-being and preparation for in-demand jobs, and that Ohio will hold itself accountable for results.
The approval also lets local education agencies concentrate Title III-A English language acquisition funds on one or more of the three required spending categories, and simplifies Direct Student Services implementation. President Trump signed Executive Order 14242 on March 20, 2025, setting the policy backdrop for the flexibility measures.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：俄亥俄州议会大厦（哥伦布市）。Jsjessee 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Photo by Jsjessee, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
