Title V, Part B - Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP)

PURPOSE

Title V Part B (REAP) provides supplemental funding to support eligible rural districts that do not have the capacity to compete for federal competitive grants and receive smaller allocations in Federal entitlement funds. The REAP funds are used to implement effective Federal programs to improve student academic performance.

There are two initiatives under REAP:

1. Rural Low-Income School (RLIS)
2. Small Rural School Achievement Program (SRSA)

ELIGIBILITY

• 2025-2026 Master Eligibility List

IS MY DISTRICT RURAL?

There are two ways to identify if your district is rural.

• National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) Locale Codes: Locale codes are a measure of the geographic area of a school district. The codes range from “large city” to “rural.” The NCES locale codes can be found here.
• Ohio’s Alternative Definition for Rural: Each state may select an alternative definition for rural to identify districts that may qualify for REAP funding. When NCES makes a change in a locale code, some districts which previously were eligible for REAP are no longer eligible and lose this valuable funding. Ohio has a new an alternative definition using a District’s Typology. Those districts identified as rural under District Typology may meet the criteria for REAP funding. 

Rural Low-Income School Program

Eligibility Criteria

An Ohio school district is eligible for the Rural Low-Income School grant if the district: 

• ​Has a low income percentage of 20 percent or higher with children ages 5-17 on the U.S. Census for the geographical area that the school district serves.
• Has a Locale Code from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) of 32, 33, 41, 42 or 43 beginning the 2017-2018 school year. 

Use of Program Funds

School districts under this program must use funds to supplement authorized* activities under federal funds listed below:

1. Title I Part A
2. Title II Part A
3. Title III
4. Title IV Part A
5. Parental Involvement Activities

More guidance is available here.

District authorized representative and the Department’s Office of Federal Programs authorizes activities.
 

Small Rural School Achievement Program (SRSA)

Eligibility Criteria

An Ohio school district is eligible for the Small Rural School Achievement program if the district:

• Has an Average Daily Membership of 600 or less students based on the previous school year’s enrollment.
• Has a Locale Code from the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) of 41, 42 or 43 beginning with the 2017-2018 school year. 

Use of Funds

School districts under this program must use funds to supplement authorized** activities under federal funds listed below:

1. Title I Part A
2. Title II Part A
3. Title III (LEP and Immigrant)
4. Title IV Part A or B

The U.S. Department of Education administers and awards this grant.
**District authorized representative and the U.S. Department of Education authorizes activities.

RESOURCES

• Collaborating to Advance Rural Education Learning Hub - Batelle for Kids
• Title V-B Guidance
• National Rural Education Association
• Rural Education Resource Center
• Journal of Research in Rural Education
• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) School District Search
• USDOE REAP Informational Document
• SRSA Applicant Information
• ​G5 Grants Management System

  

Last Modified: 3/24/2025 4:02:09 PM

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