U.S. Department of Education Approves Ed-Flex for Nevada
August 31, 2026
CARSON CITY, Nev. – The Nevada Department of Education has received Ed-Flex approval from the U.S. Department of Education.
Nevada school districts and schools will now be able to work directly with the Nevada Department of Education, rather than the federal government, to waive certain federal education requirements when greater flexibility can better serve students.
“Ed-Flex gives Nevada educators another tool to give students the support they need to succeed,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “This authority puts important decisions about our schools where they belong — in Nevada, not Washington, D.C. I appreciate the U.S. Department of Education for working with Nevada to secure this flexibility and empower our local educators and school leaders to make decisions that best serve their students.”
The U.S. Department of Education announced on Aug. 21 that it approved Nevada’s application. In total, 25 U.S. states now have Ed-Flex authority.
Federal rules can require a district to divide funding among priorities such as student health and safety, academic enrichment, and technology. Under Ed-Flex, a district could work with the Nevada Department of Education to waive those requirements and put more of those dollars toward the area where its students need the most support.
“The U.S. Department of Education’s approval of Ed-Flex for Nevada is an important step toward providing more flexibility for our districts and schools in the use of federal Title funding,” said Dr. Victor Wakefield, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Nevada’s participation in Ed-Flex is the direct result of valuable feedback provided earlier this year during my statewide listening tour and complements broader efforts led by Governor Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Legislature to modernize and streamline processes. Our shared goal is to focus time and resources on what matters most: high-quality teaching and learning.”
The Nye and Washoe county school districts requested that the Nevada Department of Education apply for Ed-Flex.
“Ed-Flex approval is a huge win for Nevada schools,” said Dr. Joseph Gent, Superintendent of the Nye County School District. “It gives us the flexibility to direct federal funds straight to our local priorities and support our students more effectively.”
“Local educators and school leaders are closest to the students and communities we serve, and they are best positioned to understand how to use resources to meet their unique needs,” said Tiffany McMaster, Superintendent of the Washoe County School District. “We appreciate Superintendent Wakefield’s commitment to listening to our districts and turning that feedback into meaningful action. Nevada’s new Ed-Flex authority gives us greater flexibility to make thoughtful decisions about federal resources and, most importantly, to focus those resources where they can have the greatest impact on student learning and success.”
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About the Nevada Department of Education
The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) leads and collaborates with Nevada’s 17 school districts and the State Public Charter School Authority to advance educational equity Statewide. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, NDE oversees all pre-K-12 education in the State, working to achieve its mission to improve student achievement and educator effectiveness by ensuring opportunities, facilitating learning, and promoting excellence. Under the leadership of the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, NDE impacts the achievement of nearly half a million children and 30,000 educators. Learn more at https://doe.nv.gov/ and join us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.