PLAINFIELD, Ind. — June 16, 2026 — Plainfield Community School Corporation (PCSC) was proud to host U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, and Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner at Plainfield High School this morning for a landmark announcement: the U.S. Department of Education has officially approved Indiana's "Returning Education to the States" waiver.
Indiana is the third state in the nation — following Iowa and Louisiana — to receive this waiver, which gives the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) significantly more discretion over how federal education dollars are managed and reported.
Streamlined funding, less red tape
Under the waiver, IDOE will combine five federal funding streams — Title I-B, Title II-A, Title III-A, Title IV-A, and Title IV-B — into a single consolidated fund with unified reporting requirements. These funds support a range of student populations, including students from migratory families, English learners, and more.
By eliminating duplicate paperwork and separate tracking for each program, the change is projected to free up nearly $20 million in compliance and administrative costs across the state over the next four years — money that can be redirected from bureaucratic overhead and toward direct classroom support, rather than added on top of existing federal funding. These federal funds made available for distribution will not replace existing state and local funding, but instead will act as supplementary avenues of funding. This will allow schools within Indiana, like Plainfield, to use this funding to expand innovative offerings like project-based learning and early college pathways for students.
While this will allow for significantly more flexibility for schools within certain funding streams and their requirements, certain federal programs, including the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) will remain unchanged.
More flexibility in measuring student success
The waiver also allows Indiana to align its state and federal high school accountability systems into one, rather than maintaining two separate systems side by side. This gives the state more flexibility to weigh college- and career-readiness measures — including ACT and PSAT scores, dual credit, and Advanced Placement coursework — alongside traditional academic indicators, building on Indiana's recent redesign of its diploma requirements around real-world readiness.
What state and federal leaders are saying
Secretary McMahon framed the approval as part of a broader push to shift education decisions away from Washington and toward state and local leaders, while also helping align schooling with workforce needs.
Governor Braun pointed to the waiver as further proof that Indiana is leading the nation on education flexibility, giving the state more say in how federal dollars are put to use for Hoosier students.
Dr. Jenner described the waiver as the product of a deliberate choice to move past the status quo — an effort to cut unnecessary red tape, empower local school leaders, and direct more resources straight into Indiana classrooms.
"We were honored to welcome Secretary McMahon, Governor Braun, and Dr. Jenner to Plainfield High School for an announcement that will benefit students across our district and across the state," said Plainfield Community School Corporation superintendent Andy Allen. "Less time spent on duplicate paperwork means more time and resources we can put directly toward our students and classrooms."
Focusing on Innovation and Work-Based Learning
For our students in the graduating class of 2029 and beyond, work-based learning will be a key component of graduating with an Indiana Diploma Plus Seal. Secretary McMahon, Governor Braun, Secretary Jenner, and others spent time listening to several Indiana districts – Plainfield included – discuss where they currently stand and where they are heading with their work-based learning programs. Class of 2024 graduate Addie Hacker spoke about her graduation pathways experience within veterinary medicine, which provided several unique learning opportunities that set her apart from her peers. Class of 2029 student Kiley Bell spoke about her current work-based learning internship, the real-world job experiences that she’s gaining, and how she foresees it distinguishing her from others in the future as she aims for medical school.
Media Contact: Brooke Orner, Communications Director, Plainfield Community School Corporation — 317.839.2578 / borner@plainfield.k12.in.us