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What is the purpose of this program?
The purpose is to provide financial assistance to eligible rural districts to assist them in meeting their state's definition of adequate yearly progress.
How can these funds be used?
Recipients of funds under the Small Rural Schools Achievement Program may use program funds to conduct activities authorized under Part A of Title I (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged); Part A of Title II (Improving Teacher Quality State Grants); Part D of Title II (Educational Technology State Grants); Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students); Part A of Title IV (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities); Part B of Title IV (21st-Century Community Learning Centers); and Part A of Title V (State Grants for Innovative Programs).
Recipients of funds under the Rural and Low-Income School Program may use program funds to conduct the following activities:
· Teacher recruitment and retention
· Teacher professional development
· Educational technology
· Parent involvement activities
· Activities authorized under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants program
· Activities authorized under Part A of Title I
· Activities authorized under Title III
What are the eligibility requirements?
Two separate formula grant programs are authorized. Applicants do not compete but rather are entitled to funds if they meet basic eligibility requirements. Eligibility is restricted by statute.
Small Rural Schools Achievement Program
Eligible entities are LEAs in which (1) the total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the LEA is less than 600 or where each school in the LEA is located in a county with a total population density of less than 10 persons per square mile; and (2) all of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a School Locale Code of 7 or 8 under the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) locator system or the LEA is located in an area of the state defined as a rural by a state governmental agency.
Rural and Low-Income School Program
Eligible entities are LEAs (1) that are not eligible for funds under the Small, Rural School Achievement Program; (2) where at least 20% of the school children ages 5-17 in the LEA come from families with incomes below the poverty line; AND (3) where all of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a School Locale Code of 6, 7 or 8 under the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) locator system.
What is the application or allocation process?
To receive an award under the Small Rural School Achievement Program provision, an eligible LEA must submit an application to the Department in the manner that has been specified by that agency. Awards are issued annually directly to eligible LEAs on a formula basis and are made to all that apply and meet the applicable eligibility requirements of the act.
Under the Rural and Low-Income School Program provision, awards are issued annually to SEAs, which make subgrants to LEAS that meet the applicable eligibility requirements of the act. To receive an award under this program, an eligible LEA must submit an application to its SEA in the manner that has been specified by that agency. If an SEA does not participate, the Department issues awards to eligible LEAs in the state either competitively or by formula. To date, all SEAs have elected to participate in the program.
Contact your state department of education or local district to learn about the application process, timeliness, eligibility requirements, and when funds are disbursed.
Funding Process for Schools:
Formula-based funding
Total FY 2004 Funding:
$167,831,000
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
This information also appears at the US Department of Education:
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/reap.html
Authorizing Legislation:
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title VI, Part B
Name: Each state has a different program coordinator.
Phone: (202) 402-0039
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