Rural Education Achievement Program
Part B of Title V of the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) authorizes the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP). REAP is designed to help rural districts that may lack the personnel and resources to compete effectively for Federal competitive grants and that often receive grant allocations in amounts that are too small to be effective in meeting their intended purposes.
The formula grant funds, and the fund use flexibility available under REAP enable rural local educational agencies (LEAs) to participate more fully and effectively in many of the ESEA programs and allow them to provide better educational services to their students.
There are two formula grant programs authorized under REAP: the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program and the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program.
The Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Grant Program (CFDA no. 84.358A)
- Under SRSA, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) awards grants each year directly to eligible LEAs nationwide based on a statutory formula. SRSA program grantees must be small and rural, and LEAs must apply directly to the Department each year. An LEA may use its funds on a range of authorized activities and also has the ability to use some of its ESEA formula funds more flexibly under the Alternative Fund Use Authority (AFUA).
The Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) Grant Program (CFDA no. 84.358B)
- The RLIS program provides grant funds to rural LEAs that serve concentrations of children from low-income families. Under RLIS, the Department awards funds to SEAs, which in turn make subgrants to LEAs. An SEA may award the RLIS grant funds to its eligible LEAs via a formula or via a competition. In some cases, the Department awards RLIS funds directly to eligible LEAs; these LEAs are referred to as specially qualified agencies (SQAs). Whether receiving a subgrant from its SEA or a grant directly from the Department, an LEA uses these funds to support a range of authorized activities, in order to assist students in meeting challenging State academic standards.
The REAP website consists of many helpful webpages and resources designed to support SRSA and RLIS grantees through every stage of the grant-making cycle. The REAP team recommends that new grantees and stakeholders begin by exploring the REAP Quick Links document which is a one-page PDF that includes hyperlinks to webpages and resources for commonly asked questions relating to the SRSA and RLIS grant programs.
