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March 20, 2006

To: Superintendents of Schools

From: Laurie A. Rowe

Subject: Local Educational Agency Eligibility for Participation in the 2006-07 Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Small Rural School Achievement Grant Program (SRSA)

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has notified our office that the application process for funding under the SRSA Program has begun. To be eligible to participate in this initiative, the local educational agency (LEA) must meet the following criteria:

•    Total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the LEA is less than 600; or each county in which a school served by the LEA is located has a population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile; and

•    All of the schools served by the LEA are designated with a School Locale Code of 7 or 8 under the USDOE’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) locator system.

For purposes of eligibility, the average daily attendance figure includes the students in all of the public schools in an LEA. The locale codes for schools are listed in this document. They can also be found on the USDOE NCES website http://www.nces.ed.gov/ccd. Under the “Data Resources” dropdown menu select “School Locator.”

The application process for SRSA is done electronically, via an E-Application process through USDOE. LEAs that were eligible for this funding in 2005-06 and who expended 80% or more of their district’s allocation will not be required to submit an application this year. USDOE will make the 2006-07 funding awards to these districts by rolling over previous years’ application data.

LEAs funded in previous years and those who have never been funded under this program who feel they meet the eligibility criteria described above, can submit an application for funding on or before June 2, 2006 by going to http://e-grants.ed.gov/egWelcome.asp. Completing the e-application does not automatically entitle the LEA for funding under this grant. Upon determination of LEA eligibility, USDOE will provide our office with a list of LEAs meeting eligibility criteria. A tentative list of school districts eligible to apply for participation in the 2006-07 SRSA and REAP-FLEX Alternative Use of Funds Authority Program is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ppd/tentativelistreap_srsa_200607.htm. 

USDOE has issued a REAP guidance document which you may find helpful. This document can be found at http://www.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/legislation.html.

Should you have any questions regarding this process, contact Ivelisse Rivera, Office of Planning and Professional Development at (518) 473-7155.


Common Core of Data (CCD) Locale Code

Locale Code is a variable that NCES has created for general description, sampling, and other statistical purposes. It is based upon the location of school buildings, and in some cases may not reflect the entire attendance area or residences of enrolled students. The designation of each school’s "locale" is based on its geographic location and population attributes such as density. School locale codes are coded by Census from school addresses in CCD files. The classifications are:

1.    Large City: A central city of a Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) or Consolidated Statistical Area (CSA), with the city having a population greater than or equal to 250,000.

2.    Mid-size City: A central city of a CBSA or CSA, with the city having a population less than 250,000.

3.    Urban Fringe of a Large City: Any incorporated place, Census designated place, or non-place territory within a CBSA or CSA of a Large City and defined as urban by the Census Bureau.

4.    Urban Fringe of a Mid-size City: Any incorporated place, Census designated place, or non-place territory within a CBSA or CSA of a Mid-size City and defined as urban by the Census Bureau.

5.    Large Town: An incorporated place or Census designated place with a population greater than or equal to 25,000 and located outside a CBSA or CSA.

6.    Small Town: An incorporated place or Census designated place with population less than 25,000 and greater than or equal to 2,500 and located outside a CBSA or CSA.

7.    Rural, outside CBSA: Any incorporated place, Census designated place, or non-place territory not within a CBSA or CSA of a Large or Mid-size City and defined as rural by the Census Bureau.

8.    Rural, inside CBSA: Any incorporated place, Census designated place, or non-place territory within a CBSA or CSA of a Large or Mid-size City and defined as rural by the Census Bureau.