Notice2024-05760
Application Deadline for Fiscal Year 2024; Small, Rural School Achievement Program
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Published
March 19, 2024
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
Under the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program, Assistance Listing Number 84.358A, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) awards grants on a formula basis to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs) to address the unique needs of rural school districts. In this notice, we establish the deadline and describe the application process for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 SRSA grant. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1810-0646. All LEAs eligible for FY 2024 SRSA funds must apply electronically via the process described in this notice by the deadline listed below.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 54 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19581-19582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05760]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Application Deadline for Fiscal Year 2024; Small, Rural School
Achievement Program
AGENCY: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Under the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program,
Assistance Listing Number 84.358A, the U.S. Department of Education
(Department) awards grants on a formula basis to eligible local
educational agencies (LEAs) to address the unique needs of rural school
districts. In this notice, we establish the deadline and describe the
application process for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 SRSA grant. This
notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control
number 1810-0646. All LEAs eligible for FY 2024 SRSA funds must apply
electronically via the process described in this notice by the deadline
listed below.
DATES:
Applications Available: March 19, 2024.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 10, 2024.
Application Technical Assistance: The Department will announce
application technical assistance opportunities for applicants when the
application becomes available.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Poynter, REAP Group Leader,
U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC
20202. Telephone: (202) 401-0039. Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2c0d7d3c2f2d7d69cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a485f5b4a7a5f5e145d554c">[email protected]</span></a>.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and
wish to access telecommunications relay services, please dial 7-1-1.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Award Information
Type of Award: Formula grant.
Available Funds: The Administration has requested $107,500,000 for
SRSA in FY 2024. The actual level of funding depends on final
congressional action. However, we are inviting applications to allow
enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates
funds for this program.
Estimated Range of Awards: $0-$60,000.
Note: The amount of an LEA's award depends on the number of
eligible LEAs in a given year, the number of eligible LEAs that
complete the SRSA application, and the amount Congress appropriates for
the program. Some eligible LEAs may receive an SRSA allocation of $0
due to the statutory funding formula and, in that case, will not be
invited to submit an application.
Estimated Number of Awards: 4,200.
II. Program Authority and Eligibility Information
Under what statutory authority will FY 2024 SRSA grant awards be made?
The FY 2024 SRSA grant awards will be made under title V, part B,
subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA),
20 U.S.C. 7345-7345a.
Which LEAs are eligible for an award under the SRSA program?
For FY 2024, an LEA (including a public charter school that meets
the definition of LEA in section 8101(30) of the ESEA) is eligible for
an award under the SRSA program if it meets both criteria below:
(a) The total number of students in average daily attendance at all
schools served by the LEA is fewer than 600, or each county in which a
school served by the LEA is located has a total population density of
fewer than 10 persons per square mile; and
(b) All schools served by the LEA are designated with a school
locale code of 41, 42, or 43 by the Department's National Center for
Education Statistics (NCES), or the Secretary has determined, based on
a demonstration by the LEA and concurrence of the State educational
agency, that the LEA is located in an area defined as rural by a
governmental agency of the State.
The Department provides an eligibility spreadsheet listing each LEA
eligible to apply for FY 2024 SRSA grant funds. The spreadsheet is
available on the Department's website at: <a href="https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/rural-insular-native-achievement-programs/rural-education-achievement-program/small-rural-school-achievement-program/eligibility/">https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/rural-insular-native-achievement-programs/rural-education-achievement-program/small-rural-school-achievement-program/eligibility/</a>.
If an LEA on the Department's list of LEAs eligible to apply for an
FY 2024 SRSA award will close prior to the 2024-2025 school year, that
LEA is not eligible to receive an FY 2024 SRSA award and should not
apply.
Note: The ``Choice of Participation'' provision under section 5225
of the ESEA gives an LEA eligible for both SRSA and the Rural and Low-
Income School (RLIS) program, which is authorized under title V, part
B, subpart 2 of the ESEA, the option to participate in either the SRSA
program or the RLIS program. 20 U.S.C. 7351d. An LEA eligible for both
SRSA and RLIS is henceforth referred to as a ``dual-eligible LEA.''
Which eligible LEAs must submit an application to receive an FY 2024
SRSA grant award?
Under 34 CFR 75.104(a), the Secretary makes a grant only to an
eligible entity that submits an application.
In FY 2024, each LEA eligible to receive an SRSA award is required
to submit an SRSA application in order to receive SRSA funds,
regardless of whether the LEA received an award or submitted an
application in a previous year. For example, if a rural community has
two distinct LEAs--one composed of its elementary school(s) and one
composed of its high school(s)--each distinct LEA must submit its own
SRSA application. This requirement applies to all eligible LEAs,
including each dual-eligible LEA that chooses to participate in the
SRSA program instead of the RLIS program and each SRSA-eligible LEA
that is a member of an educational service agency (ESA) that does not
receive SRSA funds on the LEA's behalf. In the case of an SRSA-eligible
LEA that is a member of an SRSA-eligible ESA, the LEA and ESA must
coordinate directly with each other to determine which entity will
submit an SRSA application on the LEA's behalf, as both entities may
not apply for or receive SRSA funds for the LEA. As noted above,
pursuant to section 5225 of the ESEA, a dual-eligible LEA that applies
for SRSA funds may not receive an RLIS award.
What are the Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number requirements for
the SRSA program?
As required by 2 CFR part 25, appendix A, entities receiving funds
from the Federal Government, including SRSA-eligible LEAs that apply
for an SRSA award, must maintain current entity information in the
System for Award Management (SAM). SAM is the Federal Government's
primary registrant database and is managed by the General Services
Administration, not the Department of Education. The UEI, a 12-
character alphanumeric code, is the primary means of entity
identification for Federal awards.
[[Page 19582]]
Each SRSA-eligible LEA must provide its UEI on the SRSA application
or notify the REAP team by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f2d3a3e2f1f3a3b71383029"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="71031410013114155f161e07">[email protected]</span></a> to explain why the LEA
is unable to provide a UEI. An LEA must have a UEI with an active
registration status in SAM to access its awarded SRSA grant funds. An
LEA without a UEI may not receive an SRSA award until it has obtained
and registered a UEI. Obtaining a UEI is free to LEAs and is available
at <a href="http://www.SAM.gov">www.SAM.gov</a>. LEAs may find SAM's guide helpful in understanding the
registration process, available at: <a href="https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration">https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration</a>. For additional resources or technical support related to
the UEI registration process please utilize the support features at
<a href="http://www.fsd.gov">www.fsd.gov</a>.
III. Application and Submission Information
Note: Since FY 2020, the SRSA grant application is no longer housed
on the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> platform. Please see below for the updated
application process.
Electronic Submission of Applications Using <a href="http://Connect.gov">Connect.gov</a>
The Department will send an email with a unique application link on
March 19, 2024, to each LEA that is eligible and estimated to receive a
positive allocation for an FY 2024 SRSA grant award. The email will
include detailed instructions for completing the electronic
application.
An eligible LEA must submit an electronic application via
<a href="http://Connect.gov">Connect.gov</a> by May 10, 2024, to be assured of receiving an FY 2024 SRSA
grant award. The Department may consider applications submitted after
the deadline to the extent practicable and contingent upon the
availability of funding.
Please note the following:
<bullet> The application is estimated to take 30 minutes to
complete. LEAs are encouraged not to wait until the application
deadline date to begin the application process.
<bullet> Eligible LEAs will receive periodic emails during the
application period with a reminder to complete the SRSA application
prior to the May 10, 2024, deadline.
<bullet> An application received by <a href="http://Connect.gov">Connect.gov</a> is dated and time
stamped upon submission, and an applicant will receive a confirmation
email after the application is submitted.
<bullet> If any applicant information changes (e.g., address or
contact information for the LEA) after an application has been
submitted via <a href="http://Connect.gov">Connect.gov</a>, the applicant must contact REAP staff
directly by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9fedfafeefdffafbb1f8f0e9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9abbcb8a999bcbdf7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a> to update such information.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
If you are unable to submit an application by May 10, 2024, because
of technical issues, contact REAP staff by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0a2b5b1a090b5b4feb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c3b1a6a2b383a6a7eda4acb5">[email protected]</span></a> within
5 business days and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced. The late application will be accepted as having met the
deadline if REAP program staff can confirm that a technical issue
occurred with the <a href="http://Connect.gov">Connect.gov</a> system that affected your ability to
submit the application by the deadline. As noted above, if you submit
the application after the deadline and the late submission is not due
to a technical issue about which you have notified REAP program staff,
the Department may consider your application to the extent practicable
and contingent upon the availability of funding.
IV. Other Procedural Requirements
System for Award Management (SAM)
To do business with the Department, an entity must maintain an
active registration in the SAM, the Federal Government's primary
registrant database, using the following information:
a. UEI.
b. Legal business name.
c. Physical address associated with the UEI.
d. Taxpayer identification number (TIN).
e. Taxpayer name associated with the TIN.
f. Bank information to set up Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
(i.e., routing number, account number, and account type (checking/
savings)).
V. Accessibility Information and Program Authority
Accessible Format: On request to the program contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, individuals with disabilities
can obtain this document and a copy of the application package in an
accessible format. The Department will provide the requestor with an
accessible format that may include Rich Text Format (RTF) or text
format (txt), a thumb drive, an MP3 file, braille, large print,
audiotape, or compact disc, or other accessible format.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. You may
access the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of
Federal Regulations at <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/">https://www.govinfo.gov/</a>. At this site you can
view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in text or Portable Document Format
(PDF). To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Program Authority: Sections 5211-5212 of the ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7345-
7345a.
Adam Schott,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Delegated the Authority to
Perform the Functions and Duties of the Assistant Secretary Office of
Elementary and Secondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-05760 Filed 3-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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