Assuring that state and local agencies comply with the requirements of Federal and state programs has been a central feature of SEAs. The purposes of compliance requirements--ensuring both fiscal integrity and that targeted groups receive intended benefits--are important. While such requirements are often well-intentioned, too often they can act to unnecessarily restrict SEAs and districts from serving the very groups such programs are intended to benefit. A compliance-focused mentality results in: (1) Organizational silos that impede teamwork and problem solving; (2) Administrative, rather than substantive, focus on school improvement; (3) Redundant compliance efforts across program areas; (4) Unnecessary restrictions on the use of funds that impede managerial flexibility; and (5) Poor alignment across components of the strategic plan.