Tag Archives: Rural Schools

SRSA Eligibility

Below is the link to the current version of the REAP Master Eligibility Spreadsheet. Please review the information and contact your REAP State Coordinator with updates.

Click Here: Fiscal Year 2023 Master Eligibility Spreadsheet 

  • Please note that if your LEA has submitted a request to update its primary contact or other LEA information, it may take up to a week to see that change reflected on the Master Eligibility Spreadsheet here.

Who is Eligible?

An LEA is eligible to participate in the SRSA program if it meets the statutory criteria of being both small and rural (see ESEA section 5211(b)).

  1. To be considered small, an LEA must have a total average daily attendance (ADA) of fewer than 600 students or exclusively serve schools that are located in counties with a population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile.
  2. To be considered rural, all schools within the LEA must have a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43 (assigned by the Department’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)) or be located in an area of the State defined as rural by a governmental agency of the State.

In some States, the entity legally established to administer the SRSA program is an educational service agency (ESA), which is defined in section 8101(18) of the ESEA as “a regional public multiservice agency authorized by State statute to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to [LEAs].” Section 5211(b)(1)(C) of the ESEA clarifies that an individual LEA within an ESA may apply for and receive SRSA grant funds if that LEA meets the SRSA eligibility criteria and the ESA to which it belongs does not itself receive an SRSA award on its behalf.

Being eligible for the SRSA program does not guarantee that the LEA will receive an award. If the LEA wishes to receive a grant award, it must comply with any requirements established by the Department to receive an SRSA award for a fiscal year (FY), including any application requirements. Additionally, an LEA may be eligible for SRSA but receive an allocation of $0 based on the funding formula (i.e., may not receive an SRSA award).

To find your LEA’s locale code, visit the National Center for Education Statistics’ locale lookup tool on their website. For more information on how locale codes are determined, visit the NCES Locale Boundaries User Manual.

To see how SRSA differs from RLIS, view the SRSA-RLIS Comparison Table.

Eligibility Spreadsheets for Previous Years

The spreadsheets in the red box above list, by state, all LEAs that have been eligible for awards in previous years. Please note that data in some of the columns were used for informational purposes only (e.g., column Y) and were not used in determining allocations.

Eligibility Spreadsheets FY 2017

 

To view the list of districts eligible for the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) grant and the Rural Low-Income Schools (RLIS) grant, open the Excel file below.

 

To view the list of local education agencies that have been identified as eligible for the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) grant and the Rural Low-Income Schools (RLIS) grant, open the Excel file below.

 

Eligibility Spreadsheet Legend

This table describes the information in each column of the eligibility spreadsheet linked above.

Column Content
(Columns A-J) National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – District directory information reported to NCES by State Common Core of Data (CCD) Coordinators
(Columns K-N) Final Eligibility Determinations – These are the final eligibility determinations for every district for the SRSA (including those under Hold Harmless) and RLIS grants. These determinations are based on the data found in columns “S” through “AC.”
(Columns S-T) “Rural” criteria for SRSA and RLIS, including the NCES locale code determinations for every school in the district and the state designation of districts that meet an approved state definition of “rural”
(Columns U-W) SRSA criteria for program eligibility – Districts that are both “rural” (by locale code) and “small” (by ADA or county population density of < 10 per square mile)
(Columns X-AA) RLIS criteria for program eligibility – Districts that are both “rural” (by locale code) and “low income” (by percentage of children above 20% poverty)
(Columns AB-AC) These are the prior year Title II Part A and Title IV Part A allocations. These numbers are used in the allocation formula for the SRSA grant.

 

NOTE: Local education agencies (LEAs) are listed first by state, then by LEA name.

 

New Master Eligibility Spreadsheet (all states) (Excel, 7.2MB)

Eligibility Spreadsheets FY 2016

 

To review the list of districts eligible for the Small Rural School Achievement program, open the Excel file below for your state, find the tabs at the bottom of the workbook, and select the tab labeled SRSA.

Note: These spreadsheets do not reflect any locale code tests requested by states on behalf of districts.
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Eligibility Spreadsheets FY 2015

 

To review the list of districts eligible for the Small Rural School Achievement program, open the Excel file below for your state, find the tabs at the bottom of the workbook, and select the tab labeled SRSA.

Note: These spreadsheets do not reflect any locale code tests requested by states on behalf of districts.

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FY 2016 LEAs Eligible for the Rural Low-Income School Program

 

To review the list of districts eligible for the Rural and Low-Income School program, open the Excel file below for your state, find the tabs at the bottom of the workbook, and select the tab labeled RLIS.
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SRSA Performance

Monitoring

Purpose

The Rural Education Achievement Program is committed to supporting LEAs as they implement Federal grant programs. Part of this commitment includes implementing a monitoring process designed to not only address REAP’s responsibilities for fiscal and programmatic oversight, but to also identify areas in which LEAs need assistance and support to meet their goals and obligations.

The REAP monitoring process for LEAs receiving Title V, Part B funds is intended to be LEA-centered and is conducted either on-site or virtually. As part of regular monitoring, the REAP team reviews an LEA’s grant administration and fiscal management processes, based on information provided through the monitoring process, and other relevant qualitative and quantitative data. The primary goal of monitoring is to ensure that implementation of the SRSA program is consistent with the fiscal, administrative, and select program requirements contained in the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance: 2 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 200), the Education Department General Administrative Requirements (EDGAR), and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended.

Monitoring Reports

All monitoring reports are provided in the table below and assess an LEA’s grant administration and fiscal management processes, based on information provided through the review process, and other relevant qualitative and quantitative data. Monitoring reports are designed to communicate to LEAs and stakeholders the status of program implementation, noting areas where the LEA is excelling and areas that require attention.

LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY STATE FISCAL YEAR REPORT
Alton School District NH 2020 PDF
Attica Consolidated School Corporation IN 2022 PDF
Bement CUSD 5 IL 2020 PDF
Continental Local Schools OH 2021 PDF
Resolution
Dongola Unit District #66 IL 2021 PDF
Eminence R-1 MO 2020 PDF
Green Township School District NJ 2021 PDF
Hazen School District AR 2022 PDF
Highmore-Harrold School District 34-2 SD 2020 PDF
Mexicayotl Academy AZ 2022 PDF
Morrill Public School NE 2020 PDF
North Wood R-IV MO 2020 PDF
Polo CUSD 222 IL 2020 PDF
Trinity Alps Unified School District CA 2021 PDF
Westbrook Walnut Grove ISD 2898 MN 2021 PDF

Small, Rural School Achievement Program

The purpose of the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program is to provide rural local educational agencies (LEAs) with financial assistance to fund initiatives aimed at improving student academic achievement.

LEAs are entitled to funds if they meet basic eligibility and application requirements. Awards are issued annually, and award amounts are determined using a formula.

Uses of Funds

Grantees may use SRSA funds to carry out activities authorized under any of the following federal programs: Video

Example: A school district develops an entrepreneurial education program to supplement its civics curriculum.
Example: A school district pays the stipend for a prospective teacher to work alongside an effective teacher, who is the teacher of record, for a full academic year.
Example: A school district offers an afterschool enrichment program for English learners.
Example: A school district purchases a bully prevention program for all schools.
Example: A school district purchases instruments to supplement schools’ band and orchestra programs.

See the Uses of Funds Guide for the SRSA and and RLIS programs to better understand the allowable uses of funds specific to each program.

Alternative Fund Use Authority (AFUA)

The Alternative Fund Use Authority allows SRSA-eligible LEAs greater flexibility in spending the funds they receive under Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A to best address the LEA’s particular needs. Under AFUA, LEAs are able to use their Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A funds to pay for activities under any of the allowable uses for SRSA grant funds. (See Section 5211(a) of the ESEA, as amended, for more information.)

  • An SRSA-eligible LEA does not have to apply for SRSA funds may exercise AUFA.
  • An LEA that is eligible for both SRSA and RLIS funds may exercise AUFA even if the LEA chooses to participate in RLIS instead of SRSA.
  • Before exercising AUFA, an eligible LEA must notify its SEA of its intent to do so by the deadline established by the SEA.  Eligible LEAs should reach out to their REAP State Coordinator contact for more information about the SEA’s reporting requirements deadline.

REAP Funding Status

Appropriations

Amount of funding Congress approved for the Rural Education Achievement Program, by year. Also see how the REAP team distributes the funds between its two grant programs; SRSA and RLIS.

Fiscal Year REAP Funding (total) SRSA Funding Portion RLIS Funding Portion
2022 $195,000,000 $97,500,000 $97,500,000
2021 $187,840,000 $93,920,000 $93,920,000
2020 $185,840,000 $92,920,000 $92,920,000
2019 $180,840,000 $90,420,000 $90,420,000
2018 $180,840,000 $90,420,000 $90,420,000
2017 $175,840,000 $87,920,000 $87,920,000
2016 $175,840,000 $87,920,000 $87,920,000
2015 $169,840,000 $84,920,000 $84,920,000
2014 $169,840,000 $84,920,000 $84,920,000
2013 $169,840,000 $84,920,000 $84,920,000
2012 $179,193,000 $89,596,500 $89,596,500
2011 $174,532,000 $87,266,000 $87,266,000
2010 $174,882,000 $87,441,000 $87,441,000
2009 $173,382,000 $86,691,000 $86,691,000
2008 $171,854,000 $85,927,000 $85,927,000
2007 $168,919,000 $84,459,500 $84,459,500
2006 $168,919,000 $84,459,500 $84,459,500
2005 $170,624,000 $85,312,000 $85,312,000
2004 $167,831,000 $83,915,500 $83,915,500
2003 $167,653,000 $83,826,500 $83,826,500
2002 $162,500,000 $81,250,000 $81,250,000

REAP FAQ

The SRSA program is designed to address the unique needs of small, rural local educational agencies (LEAs) that frequently lack the personnel and resources needed to compete effectively for federal competitive grants and receive formula grant allocations under other programs in amounts too small to be effective in meeting their intended purposes. The SRSA program may help rural LEAs use Federal resources more effectively to improve the quality of instruction in order to increase student academic achievement.
An LEA is defined in section 8101(30) of the ESEA as a public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within a State for either administrative control or direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary schools or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a State, or of or for a combination of school districts or counties that is recognized in a State as an administrative agency for its public elementary schools or secondary schools.
An LEA eligible for the SRSA program not only benefits from SRSA grant program funds, but also may exercise a key flexibility provision in the ESEA. Section 5211(a) of the ESEA, known as the Alternative Fund Use Authority (AFUA), gives an eligible LEA broad authority to spend funds the LEA receives under selected ESEA programs on activities authorized under several additional ESEA programs. The authority is specifically designed to give small, rural LEAs greater latitude to spend their Federal funds in ways that best address an LEA’s particular needs. Section 5211(a) explains in greater detail AFUA, including which funds are eligible for AFUA and the allowable uses of those funds. AFUA is best understood when sections 5211(a) and (c) are read together. Section 5211(c) lists the Federal program funds (referred to as “applicable funding” in the statute) an LEA may use in support of other allowable Federal program activities (referred to as “alternative uses” in section 5211(a)). Specifically, section 5211(c) permits an eligible LEA to use all or part of the formula funds the LEA receives from an SEA under: Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction); and Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment) to carry out local activities authorized under one or more of the following programs (see 5211(a)): Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs); Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction); Title III (Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students); Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment); and Title IV, Part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers). AFUA does not authorize the transfer of funds from one program to another. Rather, it gives an LEA more options for spending its Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A formula funds. An LEA that meets the SRSA program eligibility requirements may exercise AFUA without the approval of either its SEA or the Department. However, an eligible LEA must notify its SEA each year of its intent to exercise AFUA by the notification date established by the SEA. AFUA is meant to provide additionally flexibility. An LEA may use all or a part of its formula Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A funds to carry out activities authorized under one or more of the five programs listed in section 5211(a). LEAs are strongly encouraged to consider how funds used under AFUA can support implementation and strengthening of their local education plans.
Please see the Eligibility page for an explanation of eligibility requirements and the Eligibility Spreadsheets page to find state-by-state lists of specific LEAs that are determined eligible for the Rural Education Achievement Program for the current fiscal year. LEAs should examine the list to determine if they are eligible for either SRSA or RLIS awards, eligible for both SRSA and RLIS (i.e., “dual-eligible”), or no longer eligible for SRSA or RLIS.
Being dual-eligible in the Rural Education Achievement Program describes a situation in which an LEA meets the eligibility requirements for both REAP grants: SRSA and RLIS. To see how SRSA differs from RLIS, view the SRSA-RLIS Comparison Table.
An LEA should research the requirements and provisions of both the SRSA and the RLIS programs to determine which program best meets its needs. While the Department cannot tell an LEA which program to choose, we have put together a list of factors an LEA should consider when making its decision. This information is available on the eligibility page of the SRSA website.
In order to receive SRSA funding, an eligible LEA must submit an application, which will also notify the Department of the district’s intent to participate in SRSA. If the LEA does not apply for SRSA, the Department will automatically notify the SEA that the LEA is eligible for RLIS. That LEA should follow its SEA’s application procedures for RLIS funds.
If a LEA applies for SRSA in accordance with the application submission procedures, the LEA cannot later choose to participate in RLIS for the fiscal year for which it submitted an SRSA application. However, if the LEA is a dual-eligible LEA again in future years, the LEA may choose to participate in RLIS instead of SRSA by not submitting an application to the Department for SRSA. Additionally, if a dual-eligible LEA indicates that it would like to receive an SRSA award, but the SRSA statutory funding formula results in a $0 award amount for the LEA, the Department automatically includes the district in the RLIS cohort. That district should follow its SEA’s application procedures for RLIS funds.
Only an LEA can determine if it should submit an SRSA application; however, there are certain situations where the statutory formula will result in a final award amount of $0 for an LEA. The SRSA statutory formula requires the Department to calculate both an initial award amount and a final award amount for an LEA. If the LEA’s combined allocations for Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A funds exceed the initial amount calculated for the LEA’s SRSA award ($60,000 is the initial amount maximum), the statutory formula will result in a $0 final award amount for the LEA. All of the data necessary to calculate the LEA’s initial award amount, as well as estimated award allocations, are available on the REAP Master Eligibility Spreadsheet (MES). If an LEA has a $0 initial award amount on the MES, it will not receive an SRSA application invitation email.
    Regardless of whether an eligible LEA applies for an SRSA grant award, the LEA may still exercise AFUA authority if it notifies its SEA of its intent to do so in accordance with established State procedures. For more information about the SRSA funding formula, see the REAP Informational Document, which is available to download on the REAP Resource page.
    Yes. An eligible LEA must submit an application in accordance with the application submission procedures in order to receive an SRSA grant award. Visit the SRSA Applicant Information page to learn more.
    The information used to determine SRSA and RLIS eligibility comes from several sources: State educational agencies (SEAs) provide:
    • Average Daily Attendance
    • Program Allocations from Title II-A
    • Program Allocations from Title IV-A
    • State Rural Definition
    The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) provides:
    • Locale Code
    • Population Density Data (from U.S. Census Bureau)
    • Poverty Data
    If you believe the data used to determine your LEA’s eligibility is incorrect, please notify your REAP State Coordinator. This includes errors in the following data:
    • Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Data
    • Program Allocations from Title II-A
    • Program Allocations from Title IV-A
    • State Rural Designation
    For the following data points, please send your inquiries to REAP@ed.gov:
    • Locale Code Data
    • Population Density Data
    • Poverty Data
    It is not uncommon for an LEA move in and out of SRSA eligibility from year-to-year, especially if the LEA’s average daily attendance numbers are close to the 600-student limit. It is also possible that the locale code assigned to the LEA has changed. If you still have questions about your LEA’s eligibility, please send your inquiries to REAP@ed.gov.
    A ratable adjustment is the amount by which grant awards are increased or decreased depending on the amount of funds Congress appropriates in any fiscal year relative to the amount necessary to award LEAs their full allocations according to the funding formula. If the amount Congress appropriates is not sufficient to provide each eligible LEA that submits an SRSA application the entire amount it would otherwise receive by formula, the Department ratably reduces the allocation for each LEA. Similarly, the Department would ratably increase LEA allocations if the amount appropriated for SRSA is greater than the amount necessary to provide each LEA with its full allocation.
    Congress determines the amount of funds available for the REAP program on an annual basis. Per ESEA section 5234, the REAP appropriation from Congress is divided equally between the SRSA and the RLIS programs. The maximum amount of SRSA funds an LEA may receive in any year is $60,000. The Department calculates an SRSA for each eligible LEA according to the statutory formula described below.
      Award estimates for each LEA are included in the REAP Master Eligibility Spreadsheet and provided to an eligible LEA during the SRSA application process. Award estimates for both SRSA and RLIS are included in the REAP Master Eligibility Spreadsheet and during the application process for dual-eligible LEAs. For a dual-eligible LEA, if the SRSA statutory funding formula results in a $0 award amount for the LEA, the Department automatically includes the LEA in the RLIS cohort. For more information on dual eligibility, see the REAP Informational Document, which is available to download on the REAP Resources webpage.
        Please note:
        1. This calculation provides an estimate only; there are other variables, such as the total program appropriation and number and amounts of awards to other eligible LEAs, that will affect the final award amount.
        2. Not all eligible LEAs receive grant funds; the formula calculation may result in an award of $0.
        3. The LEA must submit an SRSA application to the Department in order to receive grant funds.
        SRSA grant funds are allocated to an eligible LEA based on a statutory formula. You can estimate your LEA’s SRSA grant amount by using the following formula:
        • Start with the number of students in average daily attendance and subtract 50 from that number (if negative, stop at zero)
        • Multiply the remainder by $100
        • Add $20,000
        • If the total is above $60,000, this amount is capped at $60,000
        • From the amount above, subtract the total amount of Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A funds the LEA received the preceding Federal fiscal year (i.e., for FY 2020)
        The amount awarded to each LEA may be ratably reduced or increased depending upon the amount appropriated for the program and the number and amounts of awards to other eligible LEAs. The final SRSA award amount for each eligible LEA that has submitted an application in accordance with the application requirements is included in the LEA’s Grant Award Notification.
        An LEA that has successfully submitted an application will receive a confirmation email immediately after submitting the application. NOTE: The issuance of a confirmation email does not guarantee an application will be funded. For all LEAs that have submitted an application in accordance with application instructions, the Department will update the Master Eligibility Spreadsheet to indicate the application has been received.  
        Each LEA that receives an SRSA grant also receives an electronic SRSA Grant Award Notification (GAN) when the award is granted. If your LEA has not received a GAN by September 1 and you believe your LEA should receive an award, please send your inquiries to REAP@ed.gov.
        Each LEA that meets the SRSA eligibility criteria and submits an application in accordance with the application submission procedures will most likely receive an SRSA award. Nevertheless, given that the statutory formula sometimes results in an award of $0, the Department cannot guarantee that each LEA that applies will receive an SRSA award.
        Generally, your LEA may use its funds for any activity authorized under the following ESEA programs:
        • Title I-A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies)
        • Title II-A (Supporting Effective Instruction)
        • Title III (Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students)
        • Title IV-A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment)
        • Title IV-B (21st Century Community Learning Centers)
        For specific questions about the allowable uses of funds you should consult the ED program officer for your state. Reminder: SRSA funds must supplement and not supplant any other Federal, State, or local education funding. See ESEA section 5232.
        In general, when considering whether a proposed SRSA activity is supplemental, an LEA should determine whether it would have funded this activity with other Federal, State, or local funds if no SRSA funds were available. If the result of this determination is that no other Federal, State, or local funds are available to fund the proposed activity, then the LEA may be able to use SRSA funds for those activities, provided they are an allowable use of SRSA funds.
          There are three situations when it will be presumed that supplanting has occurred:
          • if the activity is one that would ordinarily be covered with other Federal, State, or local (for example, in most cases, standard textbook purchases would ordinarily be covered with State or local funds);
          • if the LEA previously funded the activity with other Federal, State, or local funds; or
          • if the activity is State-mandated or required by Federal law (e.g., provision of certain services to English learners required by Federal civil rights laws).
          If a proposed activity falls into one of these categories, it does not mean that the proposed activity is, in fact, supplanting; rather, in these situations, it would be the LEA’s obligation to demonstrate that the proposed activity is supplemental. For example, if an LEA can demonstrate that no other Federal, State, or local funds are available to support an activity that normally would be supported with other Federal, State, or local funds, the LEA may be able to demonstrate that using SRSA funds for the activity is supplemental.
            Similarly, the LEA may be able to demonstrate that, because its needs have changed, it no longer can support an activity with other Federal, State, or local funds that it supported in the prior year. Again, using SRSA funds for this activity might then be supplemental. The LEA must be able to demonstrate through written, contemporaneous documentation (for example, State or local legislative action, budget information, school board minutes, or other materials) that it would not be able to fund a particular activity in the absence of SRSA funds.
            Yes. All activities under the programs listed in section 5211(a) are allowable only to the extent that they are supplemental in nature.
            An obligation is an order placed for property and services, contracts and sub-awards made, and similar transactions during a given period that require the grantee to pay a specified amount during the same or a future period. The timing of an obligation depends on the nature of the specific activity. The chart below, which is adapted from 34 C.F.R. § 75.707 details when an obligation occurs for various uses:
            If the Obligation is for — The Obligation is made —
            (a) Acquisition of real or personal property On the date the SRSA grantee makes a binding written commitment to acquire the property
            (b) Personal services performed by an employee of an SRSA LEA When the services are performed
            (c) Personal services by a contractor who is not an employee of an SRSA LEA On the date on which the SRSA grantee makes a binding written commitment to obtain the services
            (d) Performance of work other than personal services On the date on which the SRSA grantee makes a binding written commitment to obtain the work
            (e) Public utility services When the SRSA grantee receives the services
            (f) Travel When the travel is taken
            (g) Rental of real or personal property When the SRSA grantee uses the property
            Authorized representatives can access their LEA’s SRSA funds through our grants website, G5 (www.G5.gov). They will need a username and password, and to register a bank account. If you need help with G5, call the G5 technical hotline at 888-336-8930. Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. EST to 6:00 p.m. EST, Monday – Friday.
            • Your password is expired. To reset your password, call the G5 technical hotline at 888-336-8930. (Please note that the REAP program office does not have the ability to reset G5 passwords.)
            • The website is exhausted. When a large number of grantees log into G5 at once (especially at the end of the calendar year) there are sometimes technical difficulties. We encourage you to draw down funds as you use them throughout the year. That way you are less likely to encounter system overload.
            • The website is undergoing system maintenance. The G5 website usually shuts down for one day of maintenance each October 1. Again, we strongly encourage grantees to draw down funds throughout the year as you use them, rather than trying to draw down all grant funds all at once.
            The Department engages in monitoring activities to ensure SRSA grantees are implementing activities authorized in the SRSA statute, achieving the program’s performance objectives, and complying with other applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition, the Department utilizes monitoring as a mechanism for determining the types of technical assistance needed, understanding the general context in which a grant operates, identifying exemplary practices amongst grantees, and resolving prior findings from audits or Department monitoring. In determining which grantees to monitor, the REAP program office relies on an entity risk review process based on risk factors associated with program compliance, financial requirements, and administrative requirements. The Department conducts both onsite and desk monitoring. Onsite monitoring is usually a comprehensive examination of the program to assist in improving performance. At the conclusion of onsite or desk monitoring, Department staff will issue a report identifying findings and any areas for corrective action. If corrective actions are identified, the Department will describe what actions are expected and the timeframe by which the corrective action must be resolved. An LEA typically has 30 business days to respond to the Department’s monitoring report. Depending on factors such as the severity of the finding, an LEA’s resources, and the level of difficulty associated with correcting the finding, an LEA may be asked to resolve the finding within 60 business days or to propose a plan and timeline for resolving the corrective action within another specified time frame. The Department will stay in close contact until all corrective actions are resolved.
            You may contact the REAP team directly by emailing us at REAP@ed.gov.
            Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act requires U.S. Department of Education (Department) grantees, such as SRSA grantees, to describe the steps the grantee will take to ensure equitable access to, and participation in, the Federally-assisted program by addressing the special needs of students, teachers, and other program beneficiaries. This provision allows applicants discretion in developing the required description. The statute highlights six types of barriers that can impede equitable access or participation: gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age.
            A charter school’s eligibility for the SRSA or RLIS program depends upon whether the charter school is an LEA. If a charter school is reported as an LEA by the State and meets the definition of LEA in ESEA section 8101(30), it is eligible to receive an SRSA or RLIS grant award so long as it meets the eligibility criteria for these programs. A charter school that is a public school but not an LEA is not eligible for RLIS or SRSA award. However, it may participate in the program through its LEA, provided the LEA receives either an RLIS or SRSA award.
            Yes. However, such an LEA may not serve those “full virtual” schools with its REAP funds. A full virtual school is defined by NCES as a school with no physical building where students meet with each other or with teachers and all instruction is virtual. These schools are not included when determining an LEA’s REAP eligibility and award amount. The SRSA and RLIS grant programs were created to address the unique capacity and resource access challenges faced by schools and LEAs serving students who reside in rural and remote communities. Because “full virtual” schools serve students regardless of the residence of their students, they are excluded from the ADA count.
            The locale code is a geographic indicator of the type of community where a school is located. There are 12 categories, ranging from “City, Large” to “Rural, Remote.” All territory in the United States is classified by locale. The Department’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) assigns locale codes to schools based on the physical location of the school. The Department uses school locale codes to determine if an LEA can be considered rural for purposes of the REAP program. The school locale codes required for SRSA program eligibility are 41, 42, and 43. The school locale codes required for RLIS program eligibility are 32, 33, 41, 42, and 43.
              The relevant locale codes for the SRSA and RLIS programs are defined by NCES as:
              • Locale Code 32 – Town, Distant: Territory inside an urban cluster that is more than 10 miles and less than or equal to 35 miles from an urbanized area.
              • Locale Code 33 – Town, Remote: Territory inside an urban cluster that is more than 35 miles from an urbanized area.
              • Locale Code 41 – Rural, Fringe: Census-defined rural territory that is less than or equal to 5 miles from an urbanized area, as well as rural territory that is less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban cluster.
              • Locale Code 42 – Rural, Distant: Census-defined rural territory that is more than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urbanized area, as well as rural territory that is more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban cluster.
              • Locale Code 43 – Rural, Remote: Census-defined rural territory that is more than 25 miles from an urbanized area and is also more than 10 miles from an urban cluster.
              For more information about locale codes, please visit: https://nces.ed.gov/programs/edge/Geographic/LocaleBoundaries.
              The Department uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program to determine, by LEA, the percentage of related children ages 5 through 17 who are from families with incomes below the poverty level. The Department uses the most recent poverty data available at the time it begins the annual process of determining REAP eligibility. To learn more about the U.S. Census Bureau’s SAIPE program, visit https://www.census.gov/programssurveys/saipe.html.

              SRSA Applicant Information

              Fiscal Year 2023 SRSA Application Deadline: To Be Announced

              Steps for Applying for an SRSA Grant:

              1. Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) if your LEA does not already have one. An LEA can obtain a UEI for free through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) website.
              1. If your LEA has a UEI, verify that the UEI registration is active in SAM.gov
                • An LEA must be registered in SAM.gov and have a UEI that is active in SAM.gov in order to access its SRSA grant funds.
                • Registering and activating your UEI in SAM.gov is FREE of cost. You do not need to pay a third-party vendor to register or activate your UEI in SAM.
                • To check the registration status of your LEA’s UEI, use the SAM.gov Status Tracker.
                • To update or reactivate your LEA’s UEI registration in SAM.gov, log into your online account or call 1-866-606-8220.
                • You may also use the FSD.gov Live Chat to connect with a SAM agent directly.
              1. Complete the SRSA application during the application period. View the Notice of Application Deadline in the Federal Register for official notice of the SRSA application timeframe, as well as the required procedures for submitting an SRSA application.

              All FY 2023 SRSA eligible LEAs with a positive estimated allocation will receive an email with a uniquely identifiable application link in February of 2023. The email will include customized instructions for completing the electronic application via the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Max Survey platform. When available, you may review your LEA’s SRSA eligibility, estimated SRSA allocation, and the name of the individual who received the invitation email by viewing the current version of the Master Eligibility Spreadsheet on the SRSA Eligibility page.

              An eligible LEA must submit an electronic application via OMB Max Survey by to be considered for an FY 2022 SRSA grant award. If you have any questions about the SRSA application process, please contact the REAP team directly at reap@ed.gov.

              Congress determines the amount of funds available for the REAP program on an annual basis. Per ESEA section 5234, the REAP appropriation from Congress is divided equally between the SRSA and the RLIS programs. The maximum amount of SRSA funds an LEA may receive in any year is $60,000.

              The actual size of an LEA’s allocation depends on several factors including: the amount of funds Congress appropriates for REAP, the number of LEAs that are eligible and apply for SRSA funds, the LEA’s ADA for a preceding year, and the LEA’s Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A award amounts for a preceding fiscal year. The Department collects information on the Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A award amounts from the SEAs when collecting eligibility data each year.

              The Department calculates, for each LEA that is eligible and has submitted an application in accordance with the application requirements, an initial amount equal to $20,000 plus $100 for each student in average daily attendance for a preceding year above 50. An LEA’s initial amount is limited to $60,000. An LEA’s allocation is equal to the initial amount minus the total amount of funding the LEA received for a preceding fiscal year under the Title II, Part A program and the Title IV, Part A program. If the combined amount of Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A funding for a preceding fiscal year exceeds the LEA’s initial SRSA award amount, the resulting final award amount would be $0.

              If the amount appropriated for SRSA is not sufficient to award the calculated allocations, all awards are ratably decreased. Alternatively, all award amounts are ratably increased if the amount of funds made available by Congress is more than the total of the calculated allocations.