Rural Education (84.358)
Program
84.358 Rural Education
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Authorization
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Title VI, Part B, as amended.
Program Number
84.358
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide financial assistance to rural districts to carry out activities to help improve the quality of teaching and learning in their schools.
Types of Assistance
Formula 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). Rural Education program funds must be used to supplement not supplant other funding provided for programs activities.
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 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. For the Rural and Low-Income School Program eligible recipients are State educational agencies. States then must distribute funds to local educational agencies (LEAs) on 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 U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) locator system. 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
Not applicable.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
For the Small, Rural School Achievement Program component, LEAs annually submit applications to the Department of Education. Application forms are available from the headquarters office. For the Rural and Low-Income School 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 Procedure
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.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
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 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 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.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal year 2002, approximately 4,242 LEAs received Small, rural school achievement grants and 1,733 LEAs received Rural and lo-income schools grants.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-1000-0-1-501.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $162,500,000; FY 03 est $167,653,000; and FY 04 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Small, Rural School Achievement Program- Range: $0 - $7,774,000; average award $19,000. Rural and Low-Income School Program- Range: $0 - $7,914,000; average award $46,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
34 CFR 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 97, 98 and 99.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Office of School Support and Technology Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Milagros Lanauze. Telephone: (202) 401-0039. E-mail: Milagros.Lanauze@ed.gov.
Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE
Examples of Funded Projects
None.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Contact the program office for information.
