FY 2020 RLIS LEA Eligibility Explanation
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION April 30, 2020 Dear Chief State School Officer: I write to share how the U.S. Department of Education (Department) will determine eligibility of local educational agencies (LEAs) for fiscal year (FY) 2020 funds under the Rural and Low- Income School (RLIS) program. This determination relates to an issue Department staff uncovered in late FY 2019 regarding the use of alternative poverty data to determine LEA eligibility. More specifically, as part of a review of our processes for awarding Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) funds through the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) and RLIS programs,1 we discovered that some LEAs had been erroneously determined to be eligible for RLIS funding on the basis of alternative poverty measures instead of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), as required in section 5221(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The Department subsequently took action to notify States of the data required to determine future RLIS eligibility and indicated that only SAIPE data would be used to determine eligibility for RLIS in FY 2020. Nevertheless, given seven States in FY 2019 relied on the Department’s past acceptance of alternative poverty data in place of SAIPE data, we have concluded that the Department has a reasoned basis not to make changes to the Department’s processes for determining RLIS eligibility for FY 2020 funds. As such, the Department will allow States and LEAs to transition to the RLIS SAIPE data requirements. Accordingly, any LEA that the Department determined was eligible for FY 2019 RLIS funding (either on the basis of SAIPE data or alternative poverty data) will be considered eligible for FY 2020 funds.2 In addition, LEAs that were not eligible for FY 2019 RLIS funding that meet RLIS rural requirements and have FY 2020 SAIPE poverty levels of 20 percent or above will also be eligible for FY 2020 RLIS funds. Rural non-geographic LEAs for which SAIPE data are not available that are eligible based on the same State-derived equivalent of SAIPE data that the State uses to make allocations under Part A of Title I of the ESEA, consistent with 34 C.F.R. § 200.72, will also be eligible for FY 2020 RLIS funds. I have attached a list of all LEAs that are eligible for FY 2020 RLIS funds, including those that are eligible on the basis of FY 2019 data and those that are eligible on the basis of FY 2020 data. The Department will also update the Master Eligibility Spreadsheet (available at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/rural-insular-native-achievement- programs/rural-education-achievement-program/rural-and-low-income-school- program/eligibility/) to reflect these changes and will notify any LEA that is now eligible for both RLIS and SRSA, so that it can make an informed decision about whether to apply for SRSA (or withdraw its SRSA application) in light of its RLIS eligibility. 1 SRSA and RLIS programs are authorized under Title V, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 2 This excludes any LEA that was eligible for both RLIS and SRSA in FY 2019 that chose to receive SRSA funds. If you have any questions about RLIS or SRSA eligibility, please contact Patrick Carr at 202- 708-8196 or by email at [email protected]. Sincerely, Frank T. Brogan Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education LEAs Eligible for FY 2020 RLIS Funds RLIS DUAL Eligibl (Eligibl e RLIS e for based Eligible both SRSA on FY based on SRSA Eligibl 2020 FY 2019 and District Name City ST e data data RLIS) Alaska Gateway School District Tok AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Aleutian Region School District Anchorage AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Bering Strait School District Unalakleet AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Chatham School District Angoon AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Chugach School District Anchorage AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Craig City School District Craig AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Delta-Greely School District Delta Junction AK SRSA - RLIS DUAL Dillingham City School District Dillingham AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Hoonah City School District Hoonah AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Hydaburg City School District Hydaburg AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Iditarod Area School District McGrath AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Kake City School District Kake AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Kashunamiut School District Chevak AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District Ketchikan AK - - RLIS - Klawock City School District Klawock AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Kuspuk School District Aniak AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Lake and Peninsula Borough School District King Salmon AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Lower Kuskokwim School District Bethel AK - RLIS RLIS - Lower Yukon School District Mountain Village AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Mt. Edgecumbe Sitka AK SRSA - RLIS DUAL Nome Public Schools Nome AK SRSA - RLIS DUAL Northwest Arctic Borough School District Kotzebue AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Pelican City School District Pelican AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Saint Mary's School District Saint Mary's AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Southeast Island School District Thorne Bay AK SRSA - RLIS DUAL Southwest Region School District Dillingham AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Yakutat School District Yakutat AK SRSA RLIS - DUAL Yukon Flats School District Fort Yukon AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Yukon-Koyukuk School District Fairbanks AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Yupiit School District Akiachak AK SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Albertville City Albertville AL - RLIS RLIS - Alexander City Alexander City AL - RLIS RLIS - Andalusia City Andalusia AL - RLIS RLIS - Arab City Arab AL - RLIS RLIS - 400 MARYLAND AVE. SW, WASHINGTON, DC 20202 www.ed.gov The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access RLIS DUAL Eligibl (Eligibl e RLIS e for based Eligible both SRSA on FY based on SRSA Eligibl 2020 FY 2019 and District Name City ST e data data RLIS) Barbour County Clayton AL - RLIS RLIS - Boaz City Boaz AL - RLIS RLIS - Brewton City Brewton AL - RLIS RLIS - Bullock County Union Springs AL - RLIS RLIS - Butler County Greenville AL - RLIS RLIS - Chambers County Lafayette AL - RLIS RLIS - Cherokee County Centre AL - RLIS RLIS - Chilton County Clanton AL - RLIS RLIS - Choctaw County Butler AL - RLIS RLIS - Clarke County Grove Hill AL - RLIS RLIS - Clay County Ashland AL - RLIS RLIS - Cleburne County Heflin AL - RLIS RLIS - Colbert County Tuscumbia AL - RLIS RLIS - Conecuh County Evergreen AL - RLIS RLIS - Coosa County Rockford AL - RLIS RLIS - Covington County Andalusia AL - RLIS RLIS - Crenshaw County Luverne AL - RLIS RLIS - Cullman City Cullman AL - RLIS RLIS - Dale County Ozark AL - - RLIS - Daleville City Daleville AL - RLIS RLIS - Dallas County Selma AL - RLIS RLIS - DeKalb County Rainsville AL - RLIS RLIS - Demopolis City Demopolis AL - RLIS RLIS - Elba City Elba AL SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Enterprise City Enterprise AL - RLIS - - Escambia County Brewton AL - RLIS RLIS - Eufaula City Eufaula AL - RLIS RLIS - Fayette County Fayette AL - RLIS RLIS - Fort Payne City Fort Payne AL - RLIS RLIS - Franklin County Russellville AL - RLIS RLIS - Geneva City Geneva AL - RLIS RLIS - Geneva County Geneva AL - RLIS RLIS - Greene County Eutaw AL - RLIS RLIS - Guntersville City Guntersville AL - RLIS RLIS - Haleyville City Haleyville AL - RLIS RLIS - Jackson County Scottsboro AL - RLIS RLIS - Jasper City Jasper AL - RLIS RLIS - RLIS DUAL Eligibl (Eligibl e RLIS e for based Eligible both SRSA on FY based on SRSA Eligibl 2020 FY 2019 and District Name City ST e data data RLIS) Lamar County Vernon AL - RLIS RLIS - Lanett City Lanett AL - RLIS RLIS - Lawrence County Moulton AL - RLIS RLIS - Linden City Linden AL SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL Lowndes County Hayneville AL - RLIS RLIS - Macon County Tuskegee AL - RLIS RLIS - Marengo County Linden AL - RLIS RLIS - Marion County Hamilton AL - RLIS RLIS - Marshall County Guntersville AL - RLIS RLIS - Monroe County Monroeville AL - RLIS RLIS - Opp City Opp AL - RLIS RLIS - Pell City Pell City AL - RLIS - - Perry County Marion AL - RLIS RLIS - Pickens County Carrollton AL - RLIS RLIS - Pike County Troy AL - RLIS RLIS - Randolph County Wedowee AL - RLIS RLIS - Roanoke City Roanoke AL - RLIS RLIS - Russellville City Russellville AL - RLIS RLIS - Scottsboro City Scottsboro AL - RLIS RLIS - Selma City Selma AL - RLIS RLIS - Sumter County Livingston AL - RLIS RLIS - Sylacauga City Sylacauga AL - RLIS RLIS - Talladega City Talladega AL - RLIS RLIS - Talladega County Talladega AL - RLIS RLIS - Tallapoosa County Dadeville AL - RLIS RLIS - Tallassee City Tallassee AL - - RLIS - Thomasville City Thomasville AL - RLIS RLIS - Troy City Troy AL - RLIS RLIS - University Charter School Livingston AL SRSA RLIS - DUAL Washington County Chatom AL - RLIS RLIS - Wilcox County Camden AL - RLIS RLIS - Winfield City Winfield AL - RLIS RLIS - Winston County Double Springs AL - RLIS RLIS - Alpena School District Alpena AR SRSA RLIS - DUAL Arkadelphia School District Arkadelphia AR - RLIS RLIS - Ashdown School District Ashdown AR - RLIS RLIS - Augusta School District Augusta AR SRSA RLIS RLIS DUAL RLIS DUAL Eligibl (Eligibl e RLIS e for based Eligible both SRSA on FY based on SRSA Eligibl 2020 FY 2019 and District Name City ST e data data RLIS) Bald Knob School District Bald Knob AR - RLIS RLIS - Barton-Lexa School District Barton AR - RLIS RLIS - Batesville School District Batesville AR - - RLIS - Bearden School District Bearden AR SRSA RLIS - DUAL Berryville School District Berryville AR - RLIS RLIS - Blevins School District Blevins AR SRSA RLIS - DUAL Blytheville School District Blytheville AR - RLIS RLIS - Booneville School District Booneville AR - RLIS RLIS - Brinkley School District Brinkley AR - RLIS RLIS - Caddo Hills School District Norman AR SRSA RLIS - DUAL Calico Rock School District Calico Rock AR SRSA RLIS - DUAL Camden Fairview School Dist.