Title V Training Page

Title V Launchpad graphic depicting girl with rocket on back.

Overview

Title V, Part B (also referred to as the Rural Education Achievement Program) is intended to address the unique needs of rural school districts that may 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. The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) is comprised of two formula grant programs: The Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program and the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program.

Key Terms & Concepts

The table below offers brief details of key terms and concepts pertaining to this program. Use the links to read more detailed explanations and guidance

Alternative Fund Use Authority (AFUA)	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 their 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 (i.e., activities authorized under any of the following: Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A; Title III; Title IV, Part A; and Title IV, Part B). (Use the Title V, Part B Eligibility List in the Additional Information section of this page to determine if this flexibility applies to your LEA.)
Average Daily Attendance (ADA)	A census, conducted between the start of the school year and December 1, to determine the number of students in average daily attendance in kindergarten through grade 12 at the schools served by each LEA. For the purposes of REAP eligibility, Colorado utilizes data from the Student October Snapshot from the preceding year to calculate ADA.
Dual-Eligibility	Situation in which an LEA meets the eligibility requirements for both REAP programs; RLIS and SRSA. Dual-eligible LEAs can only participate in one grant program in any given fiscal year. Dual-eligible LEAs that choose to participate in RLIS may still exercise the Alternative Fund Use Authority. (Use the Title V, Part B Eligibility List in the Additional Information section of this page to determine your LEA eligibility.)
Rural School District Definition	CDE’s definition of rural school districts, as developed in partnership with the Rural Education Council. A Colorado school district is determined to be rural based on the size of the district, the distance from the nearest large urban/urbanized area, and having a student enrollment of approximately 6,500 students or fewer. Small rural districts are those districts meeting these same criteria as rural districts above but have a student population of fewer than 1,000 students. For more information and for the current Rural and Small Rural Designation List, please visit CDE’s Rural Education Council webpage.

Eligibility

Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) Program

A local education agency (LEA) is eligible to participate in the RLIS program if it meets the criteria of being both low-income and rural.

To be considered low-income, at least 20 percent of the children (ages 5 to 17) served by the LEA must be from families with incomes below the poverty line, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE).
To be considered rural, all schools comprising the LEA must have a school locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43 (as assigned by NCES, the National Center for Education Statistics), or meet the State’s rural definition.

For a list of local education agencies eligible to participate in the RLIS program, please access the Title V Part B Eligibility Spreadsheet found in the Additional Information section of the Title V Webpage.

Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program

A local education agency (LEA) is eligible to participate in the SRSA program if it meets the criteria of being both small and rural.

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.
To be considered rural, all schools comprising the LEA must have a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43 (as assigned by NCES, the National Center for Education Statistics), or meet the State’s rural definition.

For a list of local education agencies eligible to participate in the SRSA program, please access the Title V Part B Eligibility Spreadsheet found in the Additional Information section of the Title V Webpage.

Allowable Use of Funds

Rural and Low Income School (RLIS) Program

Grant funds may be used to support any of the following:

Activities authorized under Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Education Agencies);
Activities authorized under Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction);
Activities authorized under Title III (Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students);
Activities authorized under Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment); and
Parental and family engagement activities.

Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) Program

Grant funds may be used to support any of the following:

Activities authorized under Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Education Agencies);
Activities authorized under Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction);
Activities authorized under Title III (Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students);
Activities authorized under Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment); and
Activities authorized under Title IV, Part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers).

Stakeholder Engagement

Activities supported with Title V funds must be planned through consultation with parents, teachers, principals, other school leaders, special service providers, students, community-based organizations, local government representatives, Indian tribes or tribal organizations that may be located in the region served by the LEA, charter school teachers and principals, and other relevant stakeholders. The LEA must also engage in continued consultation with these stakeholders to improve supported activities.

Visit these links for more information about ESEA Parent, Family, & Community Engagement Requirements and CDE Stakeholder Engagement Resources.

Key Tasks & Deadlines

Year at a glance image depicting annual calendar.

For details on the tasks and deadlines associated with Title III, visit the Title III tab of the Year at a Glance or download the Title V Tasks PDF