Indiana received a broad waiver from U.S. Department of Education school accountability and federal funding requirements, allowing the state to alter federal performance ratings for high schools and giving districts additional flexibility in how they spend certain ESSA funds. The waiver is the first under the current administration to relax a portion of ESSA accountability for high schools. The agreement also permits Indiana to combine state portions of five federal formula grants for statewide initiatives and to let up to 15% of districts combine money from two federal accounts rather than follow federally designated uses. Officials said the administrative flexibility is intended to reduce district burden. Education-policy professionals are likely to watch closely for how the state retools federal accountability measures and whether the increased discretion changes district planning for assessments, English learner supports, and student enrichment programming.