The Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Initiative designed to address the unique needs of rural school districts that frequently (1) lack the personnel and resources needed to compete effectively for federal competitive grants; and (2) receive formula grant allocations in amounts too small to be effective in meeting their intended purposes (ESSA Section 5202).
The REAP is comprised of two formula grant programs:
Subpart 1–Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program
- The SRSA program provides funds to very small, rural local educational agencies (LEAs).
- The U.S. Department of Education awards these grants directly to eligible LEAs.
- SRSA eligible LEAs also qualify for the Alternative Fund Use Authority (ESSA sections 5211 [a] and [c]) which provides additional flexibility in how these LEAs may expend federal education funds.
Subpart 2–Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) Program
- The RLIS program targets rural LEAs that serve large numbers of low-income students.
- The California Department of Education awards grants to eligible LEAs.
LEAs may be eligible for both SRSA and RLIS grants and must choose one grant under which to receive funds in any given fiscal year (ESSA Section 5225[a]). In other words, an LEA may only receive one REAP grant, SRSA or RLIS. In addition to eligibility, it is the LEA's responsibility to determine grant application deadlines.
SRSA Requirements and Eligibility
An LEA is eligible for SRSA if each school served by the LEA has a school locale number of 41, 42 or 43 designated by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the average daily attendance is fewer than 600 (ESSA Section 5211[b][1]). If an LEA is eligible and intends to apply for the SRSA grant, it is the LEAs responsibility to submit an application before the deadline through the U.S. Department of Education. To determine if an LEA is eligible for SRSA, please visit the U.S. Department of Education Master Eligibility Spreadsheet
web page.
Use of Funds
An LEA shall use SRSA funds for the following activities (ESSA Section 5211[a][1]):
- Title I, Part A
- Title II, Part A
- Title III
- Title IV, Part A or B
For additional information regarding the authorized use of Title V, Part B funds, please visit the Title V, Part B Authorized Use of Funds web page.
Alternative Fund Use Authority (AFUA)
The AFUA allows SRSA-eligible LEAs greater flexibility in spending the funds they receive under Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A. Under AFUA, LEAs are able to use their Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A funds to carry out local activities under any of the allowable uses for SRSA grant funds (ESSA sections 5211[a] and [c]).
For additional information regarding the AFUA, please visit the Title V, Part B Alternative Fund Use Authority web page.
Application Process
To apply for an SRSA grant, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s SRSA
web page, which includes the steps for applying for an SRSA grant.
RLIS Requirements and Eligibility
An LEA is eligible for RLIS if 20 percent or more of the children served by the LEA are from families with incomes below poverty, and all of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a school locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43 by the NCES (ESSA Section 5221[b][1]).
Current year RLIS allocations are based on an LEA’s student low income percentage reported two years before by the NCES.
Use of Funds
An LEA may use RLIS funds for the following activities (ESSA Section 5222[a]):
- Title I, Part A
- Title II, Part A
- Title III
- Title IV, Part A
- Parental involvement activities
For additional information regarding the authorized use of Title V, Part B funds, please visit the Title V, Part B Authorized Use of Funds web page.
Application Process
Eligible LEAs apply for an RLIS grant through the Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS), Application for Funding form. If an LEA is eligible, the LEA will have access to select yes for Title V, Part B, Subpart 2 RLIS Grant funds during the CARS Spring release (opening May of each year).
Allocations
RLIS grant allocations and funding profiles are located on the Title V, RLIS Funding web page.
Carryover Funds
The California Department of Education (CDE) recommends that the LEA obligate or expend the entire Title V, Part B allocation within each federal fiscal year.
According to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations [EDGAR] pursuant to 34 Code of Federal Regulations 76.709[b], it is the expectation that Title V, Part B, REAP allocations be obligated and expended during the year in which received.
Capital Expenditures
Property with a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost that equals or exceeds the federal threshold of $5,000, or a lower threshold set by state or local-level regulations. To locate information on Title V, Part B capital expenditures, inventory, or disposals of capital expenditures, please visit the Title V, Part B Capital Expenditures web page.
Resources
U.S. Department of Education Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP)
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Guidance
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Title V, Part B Capital Expenditures