The U.S. Department of Education recently sent a letter to all heads of state education departments encouraging them to seek waivers from “burdensome statutory and regulatory provisions” under federal law. States that apply for waivers could receive a federal block grant and decide how to spend this money.

In this update, we lay out how Tennessee could use a waiver to accelerate its cradle-to-career transformation. If our state can create an accountable system that improves outcomes for children and families without leaving anyone behind, we could become a national model for economic mobility.