James M. Jeffords: “It is reassuring to know there are provisions to recognize State statutes and avoid unintentionally changing the…”

“It is reassuring to know there are provisions to recognize State statutes and avoid unintentionally changing the responsibilities education agencies have under other Federal laws. However, we need more than a priority for concurrence among these officials and the Governor in the review of applications. That does not prohibit the Secretaries from approving grants to States where concurrence is not evident. Concurrence and explicit agreement, stated in the State plan, must be a condition for the Secretaries' approval. Without explicit statements of agreement, the Federal departments are in the business of judging the degree of agreement at the State level, and does not assure that the various education agencies and officials responsible for the programs affected by the plan are on board. There need to be something up from in the plan itself to show this agreement.”