David Cantrell, Ph. D Lisa Ramirez, Ed. D Eric Schulz Mr. Robert Hitchcock Ms. Jean Marchowsky

Ms. Patricia Randall Mr. Jacob Stern Ms. Bonny Long

Director, Office of School Support

and Rural Programs

Group Leader, Rural Education

Achievement Program

Team Lead, Rural Education

Achievement Program REAP Program Officers

Dr. David Cantrell Group Leader, Rural Education Achievement Program

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AGENDA • Welcome & Introductions

• Webinar Procedures

• Webinar Objectives

• Overview of REAP

• Change 1: SRSA Annual Application Process

• Change 2: Grant-Making Timeline

• Overview of the Every Student Succeeds Act

• Change 3: SRSA and RLIS Eligibility

• Change 4: Dual Eligibility & Hold Harmless

• Change 5: Uses of SRSA Grant Funds

• Eligibility Spreadsheets

• Resources

• Questions?

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Webinar Procedures

• Use the chat feature to ask questions during the webinar.

• Up to five minutes will be allotted at the end of each segment to

answer questions.

• There will also be time at the end of the webinar for questions.

• Please email Jean.Marchowsky@ed.gov if you experience technical

issues during the call.

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Webinar Objectives

In this webinar, we will discuss:

The purpose of REAP and the authorities that define the program

Changes to the REAP grant process and the grant timeline beginning

in FY 2017, including:

• Statutory changes to REAP mandated by ESSA

• Procedural/policy changes to REAP beginning in FY 2017

Eligibility spreadsheet submission for FY 2017

REAP resources available to State Education Agencies (SEAs)

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REAP Overview

Title V, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA),

as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 205, authorizes REAP,

which comprises two formula grant programs:

1. the Small, Rural Schools Achievement (SRSA) grant [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1]

2. the Rural, Low-Income Schools (RLIS) grant [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 2]

Both grants were designed to supplement funding to help rural local education

agencies (LEAs) increase student academic achievement.

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REAP Overview

The RLIS grant targets rural LEAs that serve large numbers of low-income

students.

• The Department makes allocations to SEAs, who in turn make sub-grants

to LEAs.

The SRSA grant provides funds to very small, rural LEAs.

• The Department awards these grants directly to eligible LEAs.

• SRSA-eligible LEAs also qualify for the Alternative Fund Use Ahuthority

[Section 5221 (a) & (c) ] that provides additional flexibility in how they

can expend federal education funds.

Before FY2017 Effective FY2017

LEAs needed only apply once to receive SRSA grant funds each fiscal year thereafter.

Eligible LEAs will need to submit an application for the SRSA grant each fiscal year to receive grant funds.

If an LEA does not submit an SRSA application by the established deadline, the LEA will not receive an SRSA grant for that year.

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Change #1: SRSA Annual Application Process

FY2017 Grant-Making Timeline

• SEAs review and submit eligibility spreadsheets to REAP Team

February 13-March 3, 2017

• SRSA Application period

April 3 – June 5 (Tentative) 2017

• REAP Team notifies SEAs of all RLIS-eligible LEAs (List will exclude dual-eligible LEAs that submitted an SRSA application)

July 2017

• SRSA and RLIS grants are awarded

September 2017

NEW!

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Change #2: Grant-Making Timeline

FY2018 Grant-Making Timeline

• SEAs receive eligibility spreadsheets from REAP Team

September 2017

• SEAs submit eligibility spreadsheet updates to REAP Team

October 2017

• SRSA Application period

January-February 2018

• REAP Team notifies SEAs of all RLIS-eligible LEAs (List will exclude dual-eligible LEAS that submitted an SRSA application)

May 2018

• SRSA and RLIS grants are awarded

July 2018

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Change #2: Grant-Making Timeline

Questions?

Ms. Bonny Long Program Officer,

Rural Education Achievement Program

Ms. Corrinne Callins Rural Education

Achievement Program

https://www2.ed.gov/documents/essa-act-of-1965.pdf

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Overview of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) In December 201, Congress re-authorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. This re-authorization is known as the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA (PL 114-95).

• The ESSA supersedes the version of the ESEA known as No Child Left Behind, or NCLB.

• The REAP program continues under ESSA.

• REAP provisions are found under Title V, Part B of the ESEA, as amended. You can read the law here:

Under NCLB Under ESSA (Beginning in FY2017)

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.

1. SAME

2. All of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a school locale code of 7 or 8, as determined the Department’s National Center for Education Statistics.

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.

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.

N/A If an LEA is a member of an educational service agency (ESA) that does not receive SRSA funds, and the LEA meets SRSA requirement 1 and 2, the LEA is eligible to receive SRSA funds.

AND AND

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Change #3.1: SRSA Eligibility

The following table compares the eligibility criteria for SRSA before and after ESSA implementation in FY 2017. [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5211 (b)]

Under NCLB Under ESSA (beginning FY2017)

1. The LEA must not be eligible for a grant under the Small Rural School Achievement Program (# 84.358A).

No longer applicable

2. Twenty percent or more of the children aged 5 to 17 served by the LEA must be from families with incomes below the poverty line.

1. SAME

3. 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).

2. All schools served by the LEA must have a locale code of 32, 33, 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.

AND

AND

AND

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Change #3.2: RLIS Eligibility The following table compares the eligibility criteria for RLIS before and after ESSA implementation in FY 2017. [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5221 (b)]

Under NCLB Under ESSA (Beginning FY2017)

1. An LEA that was eligible for SRSA could not choose to participate in RLIS, instead of SRSA. Therefore, LEAs could not be eligible for both the SRSA and the RLIS grant.

1. LEAs can be eligible for both SRSA and RLIS and must choose one grant under which to receive funds in a given fiscal year.

2. REAP-Flex was only an option for SRSA grantees and did not apply to any RLIS grantees.

2. Dual-eligible LEAs that choose to participate in RLIS may exercise the Alternative Fund Use Authority [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5221(a) & (c)]. All grantees wishing to use the Alternative Fund Use Authority must notify SEAs by the date established by the SEAs.

NOTE: LEAs eligible only for RLIS cannot exercise the Alternative Fund Use Authority.

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Change #4.1: Dual Eligibility

Under ESSA, the provisions described in the right-hand column supersede previous guidelines: [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, Section 5225]

Under NCLB Under ESSA (Beginning FY2017)

N/A LEAs that are not eligible for the SRSA grant, as a result of changes in the districts local code designation, and who are also not dually eligible for RLIS, will receive a reduced award in years 2017, 2018, and 2019.

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Change #4.2: Hold Harmless Under ESSA, the provisions described in the right-hand column supersede previous guidelines: [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, Section 5212 (b) (4)]

Under NCLB Under ESSA (beginning FY2017)

Title I, Part A (Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged)

Title I, Part A (Basic Programs Operated by Local Education Agencies)

Title II, Part A (Improving Teacher Quality State Grants) SAME

Title II, Part D (Educational Technology State Grants) No longer applicable

Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students)

SAME

Title IV, Part A (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities) Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment)

Title IV, Part B (21st-Century Community Learning Centers) SAME

Title V, Part A (State Grants for Innovative Programs) No longer applicable

Under the REAP-Flex provision, SRSA-eligible may use any or all of their Title II-A & IV-A funding for allowable activities permissible under REAP-eligible Title programs

Under the Alternative Fund Use Authority, LEAs may consolidate any and all Title II-A and Title IV-A funding for allowable activities permissible under REAP-eligible Title programs [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5221(a) & (c)] 18

Change #5.1: Use of Grant Funds SRSA

The following table shows the difference in permissible uses of SRSA grant funds before and after ESSA implementation in FY 2017. [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5212 (a)]

Under NCLB Under ESSA (beginning FY2017)

Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs) Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs)

Teacher recruitment and retention, including the use of signing bonuses and other financial incentives

No longer applicable

Title II, Part D (Educational Technology State Grants, # 84.318) No longer applicable

Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students)

SAME

Title IV, Part A (Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities) Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment)

Parental involvement activities SAME

Teacher professional development, including programs that train teachers to use technology to improve teaching and that train teachers of students with special needs

Title II, Part A (Improving Teacher Quality State Grants)

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Change #5.2: Use of Grant Funds RLIS

The following table shows the difference in permissible uses of RLIS grant funds before and after ESSA implementation in FY 2017. [ESSA, Title V, Part B, Subpart 1, Section 5222 (a)]

Questions?

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Mr. Robert Hitchcock Program Officer,

Rural Education Achievement Program

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REAP Eligibility Spreadsheet Explanation & Review

Data the Department receives from NCES:

• LEA and School Universe

• School Locale Codes (Rural Measure)

• LEA Census Poverty (RLIS Poverty Measure)

• Population Density (SRSA Alt. Size Measure)

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REAP Eligibility Spreadsheet Explanation & Review

Data Provided by SEAs via Max.gov:

Eligibility:

• Missing state “rural” definition data for SRSA and RLIS (alt. rural measure)

• Missing 2015-16 average daily attendance data for SRSA and RLIS (size measure)

• Population Density (Alt. Size Measure for SRSA)

SRSA Allocation Formula:

FY 2015 Program Allocations from Title II-A

Be sure to include data for LEAs that are members of ESAs if the SEA considers the ESA eligible for a REAP award.

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REAP Eligibility Spreadsheet Explanation & Review Data the Department Asks SEAs to Verify:

• Operational Status – LEAs no longer in existence

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REAP Eligibility Spreadsheet Explanation & Review

Documents the Department provides to States (via Max.gov):

• Spreadsheet data entry instructions

• Eligibility spreadsheets

• Blank corrections spreadsheet

• LEAs defined as “rural” sheet

• Locale code test request sheet

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Max.gov

Max.gov Online Data Submission

• All States need Max.gov to access spreadsheet data; spreadsheets are reviewed and corrected here

• Version control: stores all prior versions of state spreadsheets

• Shared desktop functionality allows you to collaborate with your program officer

Questions?

Dr. David Cantrell Group Leader, Rural Education Achievement Program

Grants.gov SRSA application website www.grants.gov

G5 Site where LEAs access REAP grant funds

www.g5.gov 1-888-336-8930

System for Award Management (SAM)

Required registration of DUNS number www.sam.gov 1-866-606-8220

Max.gov

Online data collection system for REAP spreadsheets

www.max.gov

SRSA and RLIS eligibility spreadsheets https://www2ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/eligibility.html

Questions? Contact your REAP program officer, or: REAP@ed.gov

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Questions?