Title V, Part B - Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP)

*Formerly Title VI, Part B under NCLB.

Purpose

Title V, Part B of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) is intended to address the unique needs of rural school districts that frequently lack the personnel and resources needed to compete effectively for Federal competitive grants and receive formula grant allocations in amounts too small to be effective in meeting their intended purpose.

REAP is comprised of two formula grant programs:

1. The Rural, Low-Income School (RLIS) program [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 2]. The RLIS program targets rural LEAs that serve large numbers of low-income students.
   • The U.S. Department of Education makes allocations to the Colorado Department of Education, who in turn makes sub-grants to eligible LEAs.
2. The Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1]. The SRSA program provides funds to very small, rural 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 [Section 522 (a) & (c)] that provides additional flexibility in how they can expend federal education funds.

Program Requirements and Eligibility

Rural Low Income School (RLIS) eligibility requires that:

1. 20 percent or more of children aged 5 to 17 served by the LEA must be from families with incomes below the poverty line and;
2. All schools served by the LEA must have a locale code of 6, 7, or 8 (assigned by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics).

Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) eligibility requires that:

1. The total number of students in average daily attendance (ADA) at all of the schools served by the LEA is fewer than 600 OR each county in which a school served by the LEA is located has a total population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile and;
2. All of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the secretary of education OR the secretary of education has determined, based on a demonstration by the LEA and concurrence of the SEA, that the LEA is located in an area defined as rural by the state.​
   • Dual-Eligibility: Under ESSA (beginning FY2017):
     • LEAs can be eligible for both SRSA and RLIS and must choose one grant under which to receive funds in any given fiscal year.
     • Dual-eligible LEAs that choose to participate in RLIS may exercise the Alternative Fund Use Authority. All grantees wishing to use the Alternative Use Authority must notify SEAs by the date established by CDE. *Note: LEAs eligible for RLIS cannot exercise the Alternative Use Authority.

Use of Funds

Title V, Part B funds for both RLIS and SRSA programs can be used flexibly and in various ways to support any activities authorized under ESEA, including:

• Recruitment and retention of teachers, including use of signing bonuses and other incentives.
• Professional development for teachers, including programs that train teachers to utilize technology to improve instruction or work with students with special needs.
• Parental Involvement activities.
• Activities authorized under:
  • Student Support and Academic Achievement (Title IV, Part A)
  • Title I, Part A:
    • Improving basic programs operated by local educational agencies.
    • Activities for schools identified with the highest needs.
  • Title III Language Instruction for limited English proficient and immigrant youth.

Application Process

Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program:

• SRSA is a direct grant from the USDE. These funds do not pass through the Colorado Department of Education (CDE)
• Eligible LEAs need to apply via Grants.gov.
• The deadline for eligible LEAs to complete this application for the 2022-23 school year is June 30.
• LEAs may check available funds online or by calling the G5 Hotline toll-free at (888)260-7349.

Rural Low-Income School (RLIS) Program:

• RLIS is a state administered formula program.
• Eligible LEAs will apply for this grant via CDE's Federal Consolidated Application.

Monitoring and Evaluation

For Additional Information Contact: