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Explained: Why the US is suddenly handing power back to states on education

The US Department of Education has urged states to utilise flexibilities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to improve academic performance following poor 2024 NAEP results. States are invited to submit waiver requests under Title VIII, allowing them to bypass certain federal requirements. The move is part of the Trump administration’s push to return education control to state authorities and enable more tailored, locally driven approaches to address declining student achievement.