U.S. Department of Education: Small, Rural School Achievement Program
Under the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program, the U.S. Department of Education awards grants on a formula basis to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the unique needs of rural school districts. Recipients may use program funds to conduct activities under the following federal programs:
- Title I-A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Education Agencies. Example: A school district develops an entrepreneurial education program to supplement its civics curriculum.
- Title II-A: Supporting Effective Instruction. 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.
- Title III: Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students. Example: A school district offers an afterschool enrichment program for English learners.
- Title IV-A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment. Example: A school district purchases a bully prevention program for all schools.
- Title IV-B: 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Example: A school district purchases instruments to supplement schools’ band and orchestra programs.
Amount: A total of $88,000,000 is available to make an estimated 3,900 awards that range up to $60,000 each. SRSA grant funds are allocated to eligible LEAs based on the following formula:
- The number of students in average daily attendance, minus 50.
- Multiply this number 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 sum of the allocations received by the LEA during the prior fiscal year under the ESEA Title II, Part A and the Title IV, Part A programs.
Please note: (1) this calculation provides an estimate only; the actual SRSA award amount may be higher or lower than the calculation, depending on the amount Congress appropriates for the program, as well as the number of LEAs nationwide that are eligible to receive SRSA grant funding in a given fiscal year; (2) not every eligible LEA will receive an SRSA grant, because there are instances where the allocation formula described above may result in an award of $0 (e.g., an LEA that received a particularly large amount of Title II-A or Title IV-A funds, such as $60,000 or more, would receive $0 under the formula); and (3) the LEA must apply in accordance with the application submission procedures in order to receive SRSA grant funds.
Eligibility: A Local Education Agency (LEA) is eligible for an SRSA award if:
- The total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the LEA is fewer than 600; or serve only schools that are located in counties that have a population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile; and
- Serve only schools that have been assigned a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Department’s National Center for Education Statistics (https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/rural_locales.asp); or are located in an area of the State defined as rural by a governmental agency of the State. In instances in which a State agency defines the area in which an LEA is located as rural, the State educational agency (SEA) and the Department must agree to the rural designation.
In addition, an LEA that is a member of an educational service agency (ESA) is eligible to participate in SRSA if the ESA does not receive SRSA funds and if the LEA meets the requirements described in (1) and (2) above.
A list of LEAs eligible to apply for FY 2019 SRSA awards is available at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/eligibility.html. An eligible LEA that does not apply in accordance with the application submission procedures will not be awarded FY 2019 SRSA funds.
Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=313089
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