This data collection is pursuant to the Secretaryâs authority under Part B of Title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, P.L. 114-95) to award funds under two grant programs designed to address the unique needs of rural school districts â the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program (ESSA Section 5211) and the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program (ESSA Section 5221). For both grant programs, the Department awards funds based on a calculation of the allocation each eligible LEA should receive according to formulas prescribed in the statute. This data collection package consists of two forms and related documents that are used to accomplish the grant award process: (1) Form 1 is a spreadsheet used by SEAs to submit information to identify RLIS- and SRSA-eligible LEAs and to allocate funds based on the appropriate formula, and (2) Form 2 is an application form for SRSA-eligible LEAs to apply for funding. The REAP Eligibility Spreadsheet (Form 1) has been modified from the previously-approved collection under OMB#1810-0646, to exclude data that is no longer needed because of improvements in processes, and to include data that is now required due to changes in the new statute.
The main thrust of this revision involves the SRSA Application Package (Form 2). The REAP program office seeks to replace the existing G5 document with the Standard Form (SF) 424 (OMB #4040-0004), available through GRANTS.gov. The move to GRANTS.gov is necessary because beginning with the FY 2017 grant award cycle, all SRSA-eligible LEAs will submit an annual application in order to receive SRSA grant funds. In addition, this revision removes Standard Form-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying activities, which no longer applies to SRSA applicants, and adds the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Section 427 requirements, which do apply.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.