-------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
  **ESEA: Rural Education**  

  **FY 2007 Program          
  Performance Report**       

  Strategic Goal 2           

  Formula                    

  ESEA, Title VI, Part B     

  Document                   
  Year 2007 Appropriation:   
  \$168,918                  

  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, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, SEA submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States.

**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. In order to reach 100
percent by FY 2014, the Department established an increase of 6
percentage points each year.

**Explanation**. FY 2005 was the fourth year of the program. A total of
1,013 LEAs nationwide were eligible to receive an RLIS award for at
least three years during the period from FY 2002 through FY 2005,
including an award in FY 2005. States provided AYP data for 919 of these
LEAs; 490 of the LEAs made AYP in School Year 2005-06 and 429 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               (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, Grants and Payment System
records.\
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education, SEA submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States.

**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. In order to reach 100
percent by FY 2014, the Department established an increase of one
percentage point every 2 years.

**Explanation**. FY 2005 was the fourth year of the program. A total of
3,649 LEAs nationwide received an SRSA award for at least three years
during the period from FY 2002 through FY 2005, including an award in FY
2005. States reported AYP data for 3,037 of these LEAs; 2,804 of the
LEAs made AYP in School Year 2005-06, and 233 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.*

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  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ----------------------------
  **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*, SEA
submissions.  \
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education, SEA submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States.

**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 and math assessments by 2014. The Department
will calculate increases in the annual targets by taking the difference
between the baseline value and 100 percent, and dividing that figure by
the number of years from the 2006 baseline year until 2014.

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------ ----------------------------
  **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*, SEA
submissions.  \
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education, SEA submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States.

**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 and math assessments by 2014. The Department
will calculate increases in the annual targets by taking the difference
between the baseline value and 100 percent, and dividing that figure by
the number of years from the 2006 baseline year until 2014.

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **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*, SEA
submissions.  \
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education, SEA submissions.

**Frequency of Data Collection**. Annual

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States.

**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 and math assessments by 2014. The Department
will calculate increases in the annual targets by taking the difference
between the baseline value and 100 percent, and then dividing that
figure by the number of years from the 2006 baseline year until 2014.

  ----------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------------------
  **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*, SEA
submissions.  \
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education, SEA submissions.

**Data Quality**. Data are reported by the States.

**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 and math assessments by 2014. The Department
will calculate increases in the annual targets by taking the difference
between the baseline value and 100 percent, and then dividing that
figure by the number of years from the 2006 baseline year until 2014.

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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*, SEA submissions.  \
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary
Education, SEA 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 2005-2006 school year.  As part of the
OMB-approved annual Rural Education data collection, States provided
data on their LEAs, from which the Department calculated LEA eligibility
for the 2005-06 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 2005-06, a
total of 4,670 LEAs nationwide were eligible for REAP-Flex; 2,791 LEAs
notified the State of their intention to use the REAP-flex authority and
1,879 did not. 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               (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 strives to obligate 80 percent of SRSA funds to
participating 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. Three times in six fiscal
years (FY 2002, FY 2006, and FY 2007), the Department made at least 80
percent of the SRSA awards by August 30.

**Explanation**. 

This is a new measure for FY 2007. 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 all 4,089 SRSA grants by August 30.