-------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
  **ESEA: Rural              
  Education (OESE)**         

  **FY 2008 Program          
  Performance Report (System 
  Print Out)**               

  Strategic Goal 1           

  Formula                    

  ESEA, Title VI, Part B     

  Document                   
  Year 2008 Appropriation:   
  \$171,854                  

  CFDA                       84.358A: Small, Rural School Achievement Program

                             84.358B: Rural Education Achievement Program
  -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------

  -------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  **Program      **Raise educational achievement of students in small,
  Goal:**        rural school districts.**

  -------------- --------------------------------------------------------

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  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  ***Objective 1 of 4:***   *Local educational agencies (LEAs) participating in
                            Rural Education programs will make adequate yearly
                            progress after the third year.*

  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------
  **Measure 1.1 of 2:**                                        
  The percentage of Rural                                      
  and Low-Income Schools                                       
  (RLIS) program                                               
  participating LEAs that                                      
  make adequate yearly                                         
  progress after three                                         
  years.   (Desired                                            
  direction: increase)                                         
    1779                                                       

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  2005                    Set a Baseline    58                 Target Met

  2006                    64                53                 Did Not Meet Target

  2007                    70                58                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2008                    76                (August 2009)      Pending

  2009                    82                (August 2010)      Pending

  2010                    88                (August 2011)      Pending

  2011                    94                (August 2012)      Pending

  2012                    96                (August 2013)      Pending

  2013                    98                (August 2014)      Pending

  2014                    100               Undefined          Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *EDFacts/EDEN*, grantee
submissions;  U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, grantee submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States. Data quality has
improved. In previous GPRA reports, the Department based the analysis on
LEAs that were eligible for RLIS awards, as a proxy for participating
LEAs. However, this year through monitoring, the program office was able
to verify with the States which LEAs actually received RLIS awards for
each year of the program and use these data in the GPRA report. In
addition, the number of LEAs for which States reported AYP data
increased from 91% last year to 99% this year.

**Target Context**. 

The Department\'s goal for the RLIS program is that all participating
LEAs meet their State's definition of AYP after they have participated
in the program for three years. The interim targets represent annual
increases from the FY 2005 baseline to reach 100% by FY 2014.

**Explanation**. 

This is a long-term performance measure and an annual performance
measure. FY 2006 was the fifth year of the program. A total of 1,156
LEAs nationwide received an RLIS award for at least three years during
the period from FY 2002 through FY 2006, including an award in FY 2006.
States provided AYP data for 1,145 of these LEAs; 669 of the LEAs made
AYP in School Year 2006-07, and 476 failed to do so. By statute, any LEA
that has received RLIS funding for three years and fails to make AYP may
use program funds only to carry out improvement activities authorized
under Section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------
  **Measure 1.2 of 2:**                                        
  The percentage of                                            
  Small, Rural Schools                                         
  Achievement (SRSA)                                           
  program participating                                        
  LEAs that make adequate                                      
  yearly progress after                                        
  three years.   (Desired                                      
  direction: increase)                                         
    1781                                                       

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  2005                    Set a Baseline    95                 Target Met

  2006                    95                92                 Did Not Meet Target

  2007                    96                92                 Did Not Meet Target

  2008                    96                (August 2009)      Pending

  2009                    97                (August 2010)      Pending

  2010                    97                (August 2011)      Pending

  2011                    98                (August 2012)      Pending

  2012                    98                (August 2013)      Pending

  2013                    99                (August 2014)      Pending

  2014                    100               Undefined          Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *EDFacts/EDEN*, grantee
submissions; U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, grantee submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States. The number of LEAs
for which States reported AYP data was 95% this year and last year.

**Target Context**. 

The Department\'s goal for the SRSA program is that all participating
LEAs meet their State's definition of AYP after they have participated
in the program for three years. The interim targets represent annual
increases from the FY 2005 baseline to reach 100% by FY 2014.

**Explanation**. 

This is a long-term performance measure and an annual performance
measure. FY 2006 was the fifth year of the program. A total of 3,723
LEAs nationwide received an SRSA award for at least three years during
the period from FY 2002 through FY 2006, including an award in FY 2006.
States reported AYP data for 3,527 of the LEAs; 3,257 of these LEAs made
AYP in School Year 2006-07, and 270 failed to do so. By statute, any LEA
that has received SRSA funding for three years and fails to make AYP may
use program funds only to carry out improvement activities authorized
under Section 1116 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

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  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  ***Objective 2 of 4:***   *Students enrolled in local educational agencies (LEAs)
                            participating in Rural Education programs will score
                            proficient or better on States' assessments in
                            reading/language arts and mathematics in each year
                            through the 2013-2014 academic year.*

  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------
  **Measure 2.1 of 4:**                                         
  The percentage of                                             
  students enrolled in                                          
  LEAs participating in                                         
  the Small, Rural School                                       
  Achievement (SRSA)                                            
  Program who score                                             
  proficient or better on                                       
  States' assessments in                                        
  reading/language arts                                         
  in each year through                                          
  the 2013-2014 academic                                        
  year.   (Desired                                              
  direction: increase)                                          
    899q                                                        

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\           **Status**
                                            (or date            
                                            expected)**         

  2007                    Set a Baseline    70                  Target Met

  2008                    74                (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    78                (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    82                (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    86                (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    90                (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    94                (August 2014)       Pending

  2014                    100               Undefined           Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *EDFacts/EDEN*, grantee
submissions; U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, grantee submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States. For school year
2006-07, States reported student proficiency data for reading and
language arts through EDFacts/EDEN for 3,841 of the 4,077 (94%) LEAs
that received SRSA awards in FY 2006.

**Target Context**. 

The Department's goal for the SRSA program is that all students in
participating LEAs score proficient or better in reading and language
arts each year as determined by the State's assessment. The interim
targets represent annual increases from the FY 2007 baseline of 70% to
reach 100% by FY 2014. (The FY 2008 target is 74%.)

**Explanation**. This is a long-term performance measure and an annual
performance measure. A total of 4,077 LEAs nationwide were awarded SRSA
funds for FY 2006. For school year 2006-07, States reported student
proficiency data for reading and language arts through EDFacts/EDEN for
3,841 of these LEAs. Of the 585,587 students for whom reading/language
arts proficiency data were reported, 408,386 students (70%) scored
proficient or better on their States' assessments.

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------
  **Measure 2.2 of 4:**                                         
  The percentage of                                             
  students enrolled in                                          
  LEAs participating in                                         
  the Small, Rural School                                       
  Achievement (SRSA)                                            
  program who score                                             
  proficient or better on                                       
  States' assessments in                                        
  mathematics in each                                           
  year through the                                              
  2013-2014 academic                                            
  year.   (Desired                                              
  direction: increase)                                          
    89a03k                                                      

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\           **Status**
                                            (or date            
                                            expected)**         

  2007                    Set a Baseline    66                  Target Met

  2008                    71                (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    76                (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    81                (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    86                (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    91                (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    96                (August 2014)       Pending

  2014                    100               Undefined           Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *EDFacts/EDEN*, grantee
submissions; U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, grantee submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States. For school year
2006-07, States reported student proficiency data for math through
EDFacts/EDEN for 94% of the LEAs that received SRSA awards in FY 2006.

**Target Context**. 

The Department's goal for the SRSA program is that all students in
participating LEAs score proficient or better in math each year as
determined by the State's assessment. The interim targets represent
annual increases from the FY 2007 baseline of 66% to reach 100% by FY
2014. (The FY 2008 target is 71%.)

**Explanation**. This is a long-term performance measure and an annual
performance measure. A total of 4,077 LEAs nationwide were awarded SRSA
funds for FY 2006. For school year 2006-07, States reported student
proficiency data for math through EDFacts/EDEN for 3,841 of these LEAs.
Of the 551,074 students for whom math proficiency data were reported,
364,231 students (66%) scored proficient or better on their States'
assessments.

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------
  **Measure 2.3 of 4:**                                         
  Percentage of students                                        
  enrolled in LEAs                                              
  participating in the                                          
  Rural and Low-Income                                          
  School (RLIS) program                                         
  who score proficient or                                       
  better on States'                                             
  assessments in                                                
  reading/language arts                                         
  in each year through                                          
  the 2013-2014 academic                                        
  year.   (Desired                                              
  direction: increase)                                          
    899za                                                       

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\           **Status**
                                            (or date            
                                            expected)**         

  2007                    Set a Baseline    69                  Target Met

  2008                    74                (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    79                (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    84                (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    88                (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    92                (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    96                (August 2014)       Pending

  2014                    100               Undefined           Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *EDFacts/EDEN*, grantee
submissions; U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, grantee submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States. For school year
2006-07, States reported student proficiency data for reading and
language arts through EDFacts/EDEN for 96% of the LEAs that received
RLIS awards in FY 2006.

**Target Context**. 

The Department's goal for the RLIS program is that all students in
participating LEAs score proficient or better in reading and language
arts each year as determined by the State's assessment. The interim
targets represent annual increases from the FY 2007 baseline of 69% to
reach 100% by FY 2014. (The FY 2008 target is 74%.)

**Explanation**. This is a long-term performance measure and an annual
performance measure. A total of 1,280 LEAs nationwide were awarded RLIS
funds for FY 2006. For school year 2006-07, States reported student
proficiency data for reading and language arts through EDFacts/EDEN for
1,233 of these LEAs. Of the 1,576,553 students for whom reading/language
arts proficiency data were reported, 1,090,085 students (69%) scored
proficient or better on their States' assessments.

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------
  **Measure 2.4 of 4:**                                         
  Percentage of students                                        
  enrolled in LEAs                                              
  participating in the                                          
  Rural and Low-Income                                          
  School (RLIS) program                                         
  who score proficient or                                       
  better on States'                                             
  assessments in                                                
  mathematics in each                                           
  year through the                                              
  2013-2014 academic                                            
  year.   (Desired                                              
  direction: increase)                                          
    89a03l                                                      

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\           **Status**
                                            (or date            
                                            expected)**         

  2007                    Set a Baseline    64                  Target Met

  2008                    70                (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    75                (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    80                (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    85                (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    90                (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    95                (August 2014)       Pending

  2014                    100               Undefined           Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------- -------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *EDFacts/EDEN*, grantee
submissions; U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, grantee submissions.

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States. For school year
2006-07, States reported student proficiency data for math through
EDFacts/EDEN for 96% of the LEAs that received SRSA awards in FY 2006.

**Target Context**. 

The Department's goal for the RLIS program is that all students in
participating LEAs score proficient or better in math each year as
determined by the State's assessment. The interim targets represent
annual increases from the FY 2007 baseline of 64% to reach 100% by FY
2014. (The FY 2008 target is 70%.)

**Explanation**. This is a long-term performance measure and an annual
performance measure. A total of 1,280 LEAs nationwide were awarded RLIS
funds for FY 2006. For school year 2006-07, States reported student
proficiency data for math through EDFacts/EDEN for 1,233 of these LEAs.
Of the 1,367,853 students for whom math proficiency data were reported,
882,211 students (64%) scored proficient or better on their States'
assessments.

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  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
  ***Objective 3 of 4:***   *Eligible rural school districts will use the Rural
                            Education Achievement Program flexibility authority.*

  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------------------
  **Measure 3.1 of 1:**                                        
  The percentage of                                            
  eligible school                                              
  districts utilizing the                                      
  Rural Education                                              
  Achievement Program                                          
  flexibility authority.                                       
    (Desired direction:                                        
  increase)   1473                                             

  **Year**                **Target**        **Actual\          **Status**
                                            (or date           
                                            expected)**        

  2003                    Set a Baseline    61                 Target Met

  2004                    71                59                 Did Not Meet Target

  2005                    65                56                 Did Not Meet Target

  2006                    65                60                 Made Progress From Prior
                                                               Year

  2007                    65                56                 Did Not Meet Target

  2008                    65                (August 2009)      Pending

  2009                    65                (August 2010)      Pending

  2010                    65                (August 2011)      Pending

  2011                    65                (August 2012)      Pending

  2012                    65                (August 2013)      Pending

  2013                    65                (August 2014)      Pending

  2014                    65                Undefined          Pending
  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, *Consolidated State
Performance Report*, grantee submissions; U.S. Department of Education,
*EDFacts/EDEN,* grantee submissions; U.S. Department of Education,
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, grantee submissions. 

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. In the Consolidated State Performance Report, States
reported the number of eligible LEAs that notified the State of the
LEA's intention to use the Alternative Uses of Funding authority under
section 6211during the 2006-07 school year.

**Target Context**. 

Despite outreach with States, professional education organizations, and
districts, the Department has not been able to increase the percentage
of eligible LEAs that notified the State of their intention to use the
Rural Education Achievement Program flexibility (REAP-Flex) authority,
indicating that there is not an unmet demand among non-participating
districts. Therefore, the Department is maintaining an ambitious and
consistent annual target of 65 percent, and is continuing active
outreach efforts targeting districts that could benefit from the
REAP-Flex authority.

**Explanation**. 

Only districts eligible for the Small Rural Schools Achievement (SRSA)
Program are eligible to utilize the Rural Education Achievement Program
flexibility authority. In school year 2006-07, a total of 4,644 LEAs
nationwide were eligible for REAP-Flex; States reported that 2,614 LEAs
notified them of their intention to use the REAP-flex authority. Despite
outreach with States, professional education organizations, and
districts, the Department has not been able to increase the percentage
of eligible school districts utilizing the Rural Education Achievement
Program flexibility authority, indicating that there is not an unmet
demand among non-participating districts.

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  ***Objective 4 of 4:***   *Improve the operational efficiency of the program*

  ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ---------------------------
  **Measure 4.1 of 1:**                                        
  Percentage of Small,                                         
  Rural Schools                                                
  Achievement (SRSA)                                           
  program grants awarded                                       
  by August 30 of each                                         
  fiscal year   (Desired                                       
  direction: increase)                                         
    000018                                                     

  **Year**                **Target**       **Actual\           **Status**
                                           (or date            
                                           expected)**         

  2006                                     100                 Measure not in place

  2007                    80               100                 Target Exceeded

  2008                    80               100                 Target Exceeded

  2009                    80               (September 2009)    Pending

  2010                    80               (September 2010)    Pending
  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- ---------------------------

**Source**. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Small, Rural Schools Achievement (SRSA) program
records.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Target Context**. 

The Department strives to obligate the funds for 80 percent of the SRSA
awards to LEAs by August 30th of each fiscal year. This objective
presents a challenge because of the efforts required for program staff
to ensure fiscal accountability and to collect a large amount of data
from States to determine eligibility and allocations for the large
number of LEAs that participate in the SRSA program. In addition, each
year SRSA program staff members undertake an extensive DUNS number
verification of every LEA eligible for the SRSA program. The timeliness
and accuracy of the data provided by States directly affect the time it
takes the Department to make SRSA awards. Four times in six fiscal years
(FY 2002, FY 2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008), the Department made at least
80 percent of the SRSA awards by August 30.

**Explanation**. 

Through the annual OMB-approved data collection, program staff obtained,
reviewed, and analyzed data from States to determine SRSA eligibility
and allocations; verified the DUNS numbers for every LEA eligible for
the SRSA program; and completed the award of 4,066 grants (99.75% of the
total 4,076 SRSA awards) by August 30, 2008.