RLIS State Coordinator Survey

RLIS State Coordinator Survey for the Evaluation of the

Implementation of the Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS) Program

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number.  The valid OMB control number for this information collection is xxxx-xxxx.  The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 minutes per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection.  If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4651.  If you have comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Erica Lee, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD), Policy and Program Studies Service, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202.

Responses to this data collection will be used only for statistical purposes. The reports prepared for this study will summarize findings across the sample and will not associate responses with a specific district/state or individual. We will not provide information that identifies you or your district/state to anyone outside the study team, except as required by law.

Your cooperation in completing this survey will help to make the results of this evaluation comprehensive, reliable, and timely.

1) Does your state use funds from the state RLIS allocation for administrative purposes?

 No → Go to question 3

 Yes → Go to question 2

2) What proportion of the state RLIS allocation was used for administrative purposes during the 2007-2008 school year?

 None

 Less than 5 percent

 5 percent

3) Do all eligible districts in your state receive RLIS funds?

 No

 Yes

4) What type of protocol must eligible districts in your state follow in order to receive their RLIS allocation?

 No formal process or protocol, all districts receive all funds for which they are eligible

 An application for RLIS funds that is part of a comprehensive district improvement plan or other district application for funds

 A separate RLIS-specific application form or process

 Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify:

5) How do you inform districts that they are eligible to receive RLIS funds?
(Mark all that apply)

 Email

 Posting on web site

 Letter

 Phone call

 Announcement at state conference or workshop

 Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify:

6) In addition to the primary goal of making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), to what extent are the following a focus for the use of RLIS funds in your state?

	Not a focus	Minimal focus	Moderate focus	Major focus
a. Increasing student achievement in a particular subject area				
b. Reducing the high school drop-out rate				
c. Improving the quality of instruction				
d. Improving the ability of English language learners to achieve proficiency in English and reach high academic standards				
e. Ensuring that all students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free, and conducive to learning				
f. Addressing issues specific to rural location, e.g., retaining teachers, providing distance learning opportunities, etc.				

7) In addition to the primary goal of making AYP and those listed above, are RLIS funds used to meet any other goals?

 No → Go to question 9

 Yes → Go to question 8

8) Please list the additional goals.

9) To what extent are the following activities a focus for the use of RLIS funds in your state?

	Not a focus	Minimal focus	Moderate focus	Major focus
a. Teacher recruitment and retention, including the use of signing bonuses and other financial incentives				
b. Teacher professional development				
c. Educational technology, including software and hardware				
d. Parental involvement activities				
e. Activities authorized under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program				
f. Activities authorized under Title I, Part A				
g. Language instruction for ELL/LEP students				

10) Are there any other activities that are a focus for the use of RLIS funds in your state?

 No → Go to question 12

 Yes → Go to question 11

11) Please list other activities that are a focus for the use of RLIS funds in your state.

12) To what extent do you feel your state has made progress toward your RLIS goals and objectives, including the goal of making Adequate Yearly Progress?

 No progress → Go to question 16

 Minimal progress → Go to question 13

 Moderate progress → Go to question 13

 Goals and objectives have been accomplished → Go to question 13

13) To what extent has the RLIS funding contributed to your state's progress towards its RLIS goals and objectives?

	No contribution	Minimal contribution	Moderate contribution	Major contribution
a. Making Adequate Yearly Progress				
b. Increasing student achievement in a particular subject area				
c. Reducing the high school drop-out rate				
d. Improving the quality of instruction				
e. Improving the ability of English language learners to achieve proficiency in English and reach high academic standards				
f. Ensuring that all students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free, and conducive to learning				
g. Addressing issues specific to rural location, e.g., retaining teachers, providing distance learning opportunities, etc.				

14) Has RLIS funding contributed to your state's progress toward any other goals and objectives?

 No → Go to question 16

 Yes → Go to question 15

15) Please list the other RLIS goals and objectives.

16) Do you communicate with the districts in your state specifically about the RLIS Program?

 No → Go to question 19

 Yes → Go to question 17

17) On what topics do you communicate? (Mark all that apply)

 Eligibility for RLIS funds

 RLIS application process

 Allowable costs

 Assistance in developing RLIS activities

 Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify:

18) On average, how often do you communicate with each district in your state about the RLIS Program?

 Rarely (1-2 times per year)

 Occasionally (Monthly or every other month)

 Frequently (More than once a month)

19) Do you provide technical assistance or guidance to districts receiving RLIS funds?

 No → Go to question 21

 Yes → Go to question 20

20) What types of technical assistance or guidance do you provide to districts receiving RLIS funds? (Mark all that apply)

 Handbook or guidelines in handbook on appropriate use of RLIS funds

 Conference or workshop presentations on RLIS program

 Information provided on RLIS program on state website

 Checklist on appropriate use of funds

 Workshops or conference sessions devoted to receipt of RLIS funds

 District budget review of RLIS fund appropriations

 Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify:

21) How do you monitor districts’ use of RLIS funds?
(Mark all that apply)

 Budget review

 On-site monitoring or audits

 Progress reports

 Required self-assessments or self-evaluations by districts

 Monitoring of RLIS is incorporated into general monitoring of funds for districts in

need of improvement

 Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify:

22) What happens when an RLIS-funded district does not make progress towards its goals?

 On-site monitoring or audits

 Technical Assistance for using RLIS funds to address specific problems

 Special monitoring or supervision of RLIS expenditures

 Other (please specify)

If you selected other, please specify:

23) Have you ever evaluated your RLIS Program?

 No → Go to question 27

 Yes → Go to question 24

24) Did you produce a report or document based on the evaluation?

 No → Go to question 27

 Yes → Go to question 25

25) Is the report available on the web?

 No [NOTE: BPA will follow up with you to get a hard-copy] → Go to question 27

 Yes → Go to question 26

26) Please list the URL where the report can accessed.

27) Do you have any suggestions for improvement of the RLIS program?

 No → Go to question 29

 Yes → Go to question 28

28) What suggestions do you have for improvement of the RLIS program?

29) Is there anything else you think we should know about your state’s RLIS program?

 No → End of survey

 Yes → Go to question 30

30) What else should we know about your state's RLIS program?

Thank you again for taking our survey and participating in this evaluation!

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