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  **ESEA: Rural       
  Education**         

  **FY 2009 Program   
  Performance Plan**  

  Strategic Goal 1    

  Formula             

  ESEA, Title VI,     
  Part B              

  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                (August 2008)      Pending

  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                Undefined          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

**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. From the 2005 baseline data (which show
that 58 percent of LEAs participating in RLIS made AYP after
participating in the program for three years), the Department proposes
an annual increase of 6 percentage points, in order to reach 100 percent
by the year 2014.

  ----------------------- ----------------- ------------------ --------------------------
  **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                (August 2008)      Pending

  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                Undefined          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

**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. From the 2005 baseline data (which show
that 95 percent of LEAs made AYP after participating in the program for
three years), the Department proposes an increase of one percentage
point every two years, in order to reach 100 percent by the year 2014.

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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                    999              (August 2008)       Pending

  2008                    999              (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    999              (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    999              (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    999              (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    999              (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    999              Undefined           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

**Target Context**. The Department\'s goal is that 100 percent of the
students enrolled in LEAs receiving SRSA funds score \"proficient\" or
better on State reading/language arts assessments by 2014.  The
Department will calculate annual targets by taking the difference
between the baseline value and 100 percent, and dividing that figure
by the number of years from the baseline year until 2014.  Submission of
EDFacts/EDEN data by States in 2006 was voluntary, the data collected
are very incomplete, and student proficiency data at the LEA level are
especially problematic. Aggregating district-level data across States,
which have different definitions for reading/language arts and different
thresholds for proficiency, also presents challenges. Although
submission of EDFacts/EDEN data becomes mandatory in 2007 and the
Department will review these data, it is expected that the LEA-level
student proficiency data submitted in 2007 will remain seriously
incomplete and inconsistent. Therefore, in August 2008, the U.S.
Department of Education plans to analyze the available EDFacts/EDEN 2007
data submitted in 2008, but whether it is realistic to use these 2007
data to establish a baseline and set annual targets will be determined
by the quality of the data and how many of the LEAs participating in the
program are represented.

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **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                    999              (August 2008)       Pending

  2008                    999              (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    999              (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    999              (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    999              (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    999              (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    999              Undefined           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

**Target Context**. 

The Department\'s goal is that 100 percent of the students enrolled in
LEAs receiving SRSA funds score \"proficient\" or better on State math
assessments by 2014. The Department will calculate annual targets by
taking the difference between the baseline value and 100 percent, and
dividing that figure by the number of years from the baseline year until
2014. Submission of EDFacts/EDEN data by States in 2006 was voluntary,
the data collected are very incomplete, and student proficiency data at
the LEA level are especially problematic. Aggregating district-level
data across States, which have different definitions and different
thresholds for proficiency, also presents challenges. Although
submission of EDFacts/EDEN data becomes mandatory in 2007 and the
Department will review these data, it is expected that these LEA-level
student proficiency data submitted in 2007 will remain seriously
incomplete and inconsistent. Therefore, in August 2008, the U.S.
Department of Education plans to analyze the available EDFacts/EDEN 2007
data submitted in 2008, but whether it is realistic to use these 2007
data to establish a baseline and set annual targets will be determined
by the quality of the data and how many of the LEAs participating in the
program are represented.

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **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                    999              (August 2008)       Pending

  2008                    999              (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    999              (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    999              (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    999              (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    999              (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    999              Undefined           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

**Target Context**. 

The Department\'s goal is that 100 percent of the students enrolled in
LEAs receiving RLIS funds score \"proficient\" or better on State
reading/language arts assessments by 2014. The Department will calculate
annual targets by taking the difference between the baseline value and
100 percent, and dividing that figure by the number of years from the
baseline year until 2014. Submission of EDFacts/EDEN data by States in
2006 was voluntary, the data collected are very incomplete, and student
proficiency data at the LEA level are especially problematic.
Aggregating district-level data across States, which have different
definitions for reading/language arts and different thresholds for
proficiency, also presents challenges. Although submission of
EDFacts/EDEN data becomes mandatory in 2007 and the Department will
review these data, it is expected that the LEA-level student proficiency
data submitted in 2007 will remain seriously incomplete and
inconsistent. Therefore, in August 2008, the U.S. Department of
Education plans to analyze the available EDFacts/EDEN 2007 data
submitted in 2008, but whether it is realistic to use these 2007 data to
establish a baseline and set annual targets will be determined by the
quality of the data and how many of the LEAs participating in the
program are represented.

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **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                    999              (August 2008)       Pending

  2008                    999              (August 2009)       Pending

  2009                    999              (August 2010)       Pending

  2010                    999              (August 2011)       Pending

  2011                    999              (August 2012)       Pending

  2012                    999              (August 2013)       Pending

  2013                    999              Undefined           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.

**Target Context**. 

The Department\'s goal is that 100 percent of the students enrolled in
LEAs receiving RLIS funds score \"proficient\" or better on State math
assessments by 2014. The Department will calculate annual targets by
taking the difference between the baseline value and 100 percent, and
dividing that figure by the number of years from the baseline year until
2014. Submission of EDFacts/EDEN data by States in 2006 was voluntary,
the data collected are very incomplete, and student proficiency data at
the LEA level are especially problematic. Aggregating district-level
data across States, which have different definitions and different
thresholds for proficiency, also presents challenges. Although
submission of EDFacts/EDEN data becomes mandatory in 2007 and the
Department will review these data, it is expected that these LEA-level
student proficiency data submitted in 2007 will remain seriously
incomplete and inconsistent. Therefore, in August 2008, the U.S.
Department of Education plans to analyze the available EDFacts/EDEN 2007
data submitted in 2008, but whether it is realistic to use these 2007
data to establish a baseline and set annual targets will be determined
by the quality of the data and how many of the LEAs participating in the
program are represented.

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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                (August 2008)      Pending

  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                Undefined          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

**Target Context**. 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 (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.

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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               (September 2008)    Pending

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