Rural Education

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Program Accomplishments

In FY 2008, approximately 4,080 LEAs are expected to receive Small, rural school achievement grants and 1,247 LEAs are expected to receive Rural and low-income schools grants.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grantees under the Small, Rural School Achievement Program component may use program funds to carry out activities authorized under: Title I-Part A (Grants to LEAs); Title II- Part A (Improving Teacher Quality State Grants); Title II-Part D (Educational Technology State Grants); Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students); Title IV-Part A (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants); Title IV-Part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers); and Title V-Part A (State Grants for Innovative Programs).

Grantees under the Rural and Low- Income School Program component may use program funds for: teacher recruitment and retention; teacher professional development; educational technology; parental involvement activities; activities authorized under ESEA Title IV-Part A (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities); activities authorized under ESEA Title I-Part A (Grants to LEAs); and activities authorized under ESEA Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students).

This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate that is referenced under 34 CFR 75-564-76.569.

For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

For the Small, Rural School Achievement Program eligible recipients are local educational agencies (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 as rural under the U.S.

Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) using the NCES school locale mathodology in place at the time of NCLB's enactment or the LEA is located in an area of the State defined as a rural by a State governmental agency.

For the Rural and Low-Income School Program eligible recipients are State educational agencies.

States then must distribute funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) through a formula or competitive basis.

An LEA is eligible to receive a grant under this program only if (1) it is not eligible for funds under the Small, Rural School Achievement Program; (2) at least 20% of the school children ages 5-17 in the LEA come from families with incomes below the poverty line; and (3) all of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a School Locale Code of 6, 7 or 8 under the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) locator system using the NCES school locale mathodology in place at the time of NCLB's enactment.

If an SEA chooses not to participate in the program, the Secretary uses the State's allocation to make direct grants to eligible LEAs in the State.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Elementary and secondary schools, students, and teachers in rural schools will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

For the Small, Rural School Achievement Program component, the Department considers the application requirement to be met though, if the LEA submitted an application in any prior year and has drawn down payments LEAs annually submit applications to the Department of Education. The Department considers the application requirement to be met through, if the LEA submitted an application in any prior year and has drawan down payments from the Department's Grant Administration and payment system in subequent years. Application forms are available from the headquarters office. For the Program component, an SEA must submit an application that includes specific, measurable goals and objectives for the activities to be carried out through the grant. If an SEA does not participate in the program, eligible LEAs in the State may submit an application directly to the Department.

Award Procedures

For the Small, Rural School Achievement Program component, awards are issued annually directly to eligible LEAs on a formula basis. Awards are made to all that apply and meet the applicable requirements of the Act. Contact the program office for more information. For the Rural and Low-Income School Program component, awards are issued annually to SEAs, which make subgrants to LEAs. Awards are made to all SEAs that apply and meet the applicable requirements of the Act. If an SEA does not participate, awards are issued to eligible LEAs in the State either competitively or by formula.

Deadlines

Application submissions deadlines are established annually and published in the Federal Register.

Authorization

Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title VI, Part B.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

120 days.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

For the Small, Rural School Achievement Program component, LEA allocations are based on a statutory formula which weighs ADA numbers and the LEA's prior year's allocations under ESEA Title II-subpart 2, Title II-section 2412(a)(2)(A), Title IV- section 4114, and Title V-Part A. Contact the program office for more specific information. For the Rural and Low-Income School Program component, SEA allocations are based on the ADA numbers of eligible LEA recipients. SEAs may make subgrants through formula or by competition.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded for one year.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual financial and performance reports are due within 90 days of the termination of the project period.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records must be maintained three years after the completion of the activity for which grant funds were used.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-1000-0-1-501.

Obigations

(Grants) FY 07 $168,918,000; FY 08 est $171,854,000; and FY 09 est $171,854.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For FY 2008, the range of awards for the Small Rural School Achievement program is expected to be $38 to $60,000; the average award is expected to be $20,740. The range of awards for the Rural and Low Income School program is expected to be $21,436 to $7,642,838; the average is expected to be $68,907.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

34 CFR 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 97, 98 and 99.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Eric Schulz, E-mail: reap@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 260-7349.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Contact the program office for information.