This data collection is pursuant to
the Secretary’s 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 – 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.