Cover Memo

TO: OMB Desk Officer

FROM: Enid Marshall

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

SUBJECT: OMB Review Request – Rural Education Achievement Program: LEA Grant Application and Eligibility Spreadsheet

This submission requests a three-year extension of OMB 1810-0646. The current approved (OMB #1810-0646) will expire on February 28, 2009.

This data collection is pursuant to the Secretary’s authority under Part B of Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), to award funds under two grant programs designed to address the unique needs of rural school districts – the Small, Rural School Achievement program (ESEA Section 6212) and the Rural and Low-Income School Program (ESEA Section 6221).

Under the Small, Rural School Achievement Program, the Secretary awards grants directly to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) on a formula basis. Under the Rural and Low-Income School program, eligible school districts are sub-recipients of funds the Department awards to State educational agencies (SEAs) on a formula basis. For both grant programs, the Department awards funds by determining the eligibility of individual school districts and calculating the allocation each eligible districts receives according to a formula prescribed in the statute.

The data collection consists of a two-tier approach to obtain the information needed to accomplish the funding process: (1) a form for collecting information from SEAs to identify eligible school districts and to allocate funds based on the appropriate formula, and (2) an application form for eligible LEAs to apply for funding.

The spreadsheet (Form 1) and the application (Form 2) are the same as in the previously approved collection. Instructions for the spreadsheet have been modified slightly to improve clarity. The only other changes to the forms and to the instructions are changes in dates and program contact information to make them current.

0