June 18, 2014

Fourth Draft OMB Package, Version Two

Appendix B – District Coordinator Interview Protocol

PPSS TO 10: Studies of Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) Grantees

Subtask 3.5: Prepare Fourth Draft OMB Clearance Package

Contract Number GS-10F-0554N; Order Number ED-PEP-11-O-0090

SRI Project #P21494

Submitted to:

Andrew Abrams

Policy and Program Studies Service

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202

Prepared by:

SRI International

Kyra Caspary, Chris Padilla, Nancy Adelman, Rebecca Schmidt, Erica Harbatkin, and Kaily Yee
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Study of the Needs and Experiences of REAP Grantees

School District Coordinator Interview Protocol

Note: Instructions to interviewer are in italics. These instructions include any questions that need to be 

tailored to the type of grantee, RLIS or SRSA, and how they should be tailored. Throughout the protocol, 

use the actual school district name in lieu of “your school district” as appropriate.

Role with REAP

1. [Check role in the school district from Survey Q1] Tell me a little bit about yourself. How long have 

you been in _________________ school district? What are your roles and responsibilities regarding 

the REAP program?

a. How frequently do you work with the school(s) in your school district regarding REAP? What 

does this work consist of? Are there other school district staff involved in the program? [If yes:]

What position are they in and what are their responsibilities?

b. (If not answered above) How frequently do you communicate with the school(s) in your school 

district regarding REAP? What does this communication consist of?

c. Do you have other job responsibilities beyond the REAP program? [If yes] What do they 

include?

2. How long have you been the coordinator for the REAP program in your school district? Have your 

roles or responsibilities changed over time? [If so] Please describe.

[If respondent has had responsibilities related to REAP for six months or less and ends up not 

being able to answer many questions then go back and ask if the person who was previously 

responsible for the REAP program in the school district is available to talk.] Could you please go 

ahead and answer our questions to the best of your ability? We understand if your knowledge 

of past decisions or activities is incomplete.

Goals and priorities

3. Does your school district have particular local goals or priority areas which you are using REAP funds 

to help support? [If so] Please describe them.

4. Do you use any of your REAP funds to support particular state goals or priority areas?

[If yes] Which ones and why these?

a. How does your state communicate these goals and priorities to you?

b. Do these goals and priorities align with your own goals in a consistent way? Do you have any 

priorities that are either differently aligned or, in your opinion, misaligned with those of the 

state?
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REAP ELIGIBILITY AND PLANNING

5. Next, we’d like to talk about the eligibility determination process for REAP funds. Do you feel your 

school district understands how eligibility for REAP is determined? Do you feel your school district 

understands how the amount of REAP funds it receives is determined?

a. The U.S. Department of Education prepares spreadsheets to collect data (e.g., poverty rate) in 

order to determine eligibility for REAP funds. Does your state provide your school district the 

opportunity to review the accuracy of data used to determine your annual eligibility for REAP 

funds? 

i. [If yes] Which of the following data elements does your school district review: contact 

information, locale codes of the schools in your district, information used to determine state 

designation as a rural district, average daily attendance, county population density, percent 

of children in poverty. 

ii. What challenges, if any, have been associated with determining if your school district is 

eligible for REAP funds? 

iii. Does your state have a process in place that your school districts finds helpful in determining 

eligibility? What suggestions do you have for improving this process?

b. What challenges, if any, have been associated with determining if your school district is eligible 

and how much REAP funding you will receive? [If respondent lists challenges] What suggestions 

do you have for improving this process?

6. Now we’d like to talk about how your school district plans for the use of REAP funds. Can you please 

describe your school district’s planning process for the use of these funds?

a. If multiple actors are indicated in Survey Q12, ask: How do the different people in your school 

district work together to determine how the funds will be used? How many people are 

involved? Who makes the final decision about how funds will be used? Do you see these 

decisions as being driven by consensus?

b. If respondent indicated in Survey Q4 that the school district submitted a needs assessment or 

consolidated application or plan related to the use of federal funds, ask: How useful did your 

school district find the process of preparing any information or documents you submitted to the 

state or federal REAP office related to the use of federal funds, including REAP funds? Why? 

i. If respondent had indicated in Survey Q3 such a needs assessment or consolidated 

application or plan had not been required by the state or federal REAP office, probe as to 

why the school district chose to go through this process.]

c. Did your school district face any challenges in preparing the information or documents you 

submitted to the state or the federal REAP office related to the use of REAP funds? If so, please 

describe. [Probe on any subitems the respondent indicated took “A Great deal” of time and 

effort in Survey Q6] 

i. What, if any, other challenges are associated with planning for the use of REAP Funds? 

[Probe on any planning-related challenges noted in Survey Q23 or Q33, particularly around 

timing of notification of award amount, and award receipt]
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d. Has your school district received any assistance to help plan how to use REAP funds? [If yes]

From whom? [Probe for each of the technical assistance providers respondent indicated in 

Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. Department of Education, the state, Regional 

Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers (Regional or Content Centers), and other 

technical assistance providers.] 

i. How useful has your school district found this assistance to be? How did the assistance 

change the way your school district uses REAP funds?

e. During the application and planning phases, how many hours would you estimate you (and as 

applicable, your team) spent in total this year (2014–15) on preparing for REAP funds (this 

includes such activities as conducting a needs assessment, planning for the use of REAP funds, 

submitting an application or eligibility-related data)? 

i. Do you think the REAP funding is worth the effort required? Why or why not?

USE OF REAP FUNDS

[Note to interviewer: Ask Questions 7a – 7g as appropriate based on interviewee’s responses to Survey 

Q14 regarding the school district’s use(s) of REAP funds.]

7a. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on improving academic achievement?

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting strategies to improve academic 

achievement in your school district? 

b. What other funds are you using to address academic achievement and how are they used in 

combination with REAP funds? 

[The answer to this question should be limited to the actual use of REAP funds, not a general 

description of programs and strategies; therefore, probes should not suggest specific strategies, 

but rather prompt respondents to name their own strategies with enough detail to know what 

kind of strategy is being described, but not elaborate description of how each program/strategy 

works.]

c. Have you received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for strategies to improve 

academic achievement in your school district? From whom? [Probe for technical assistance 

providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. Department of Education, the 

state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, and other technical assistance 

providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds for strategies to improve academic 

achievement? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful for 

you in your use of REAP funds to support strategies to improve academic achievement in 

your school district?
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7b. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on improving teacher retention and 

recruitment? Is the emphasis more on teacher recruitment or retention? (“Both” is an acceptable 

answer.)

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting teacher retention and recruitment 

strategies in your school district? 

b. What other funds are you using to address teacher retention and recruitment and how are they 

used in combination with REAP funds? 

[The answer to this question should be limited to the actual use of REAP funds, not a general 

description of programs and strategies; therefore, probes should not suggest specific strategies, 

but rather prompt respondents to name their own strategies with enough detail to know what 

kind of strategy is being described, but not elaborate description of how each program/strategy 

works.]

c. Has your school district received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for teacher 

retention and recruitment strategies in your school district? From whom? [Probe for technical 

assistance providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. Department of 

Education, the state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, and other 

technical assistance providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds for teacher retention and 

recruitment? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful 

for you in your use of REAP funds to support teacher retention and recruitment strategies 

in your school district?

7c. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on providing professional development for 

teachers or administrators?

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting professional development strategies for 

teachers or administrators in your school district? 

b. What other funds are you using to address professional development for teachers or 

administrators and how are they used in combination with REAP funds? 

[The answer to this question should be limited to the actual use of REAP funds, not a general 

description of programs and strategies; therefore, probes should not suggest specific strategies, 

but rather prompt respondents to name their own strategies with enough detail to know what 

kind of strategy is being described, but not elaborate description of how each program/strategy 

works.]

c. Has your school district received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for 

professional development strategies for teachers or administrators in your school district? From 

whom? [Probe for technical assistance providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: 

the U.S. Department of Education, the state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive 

Centers, and other technical assistance providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds for professional development for 

teachers or administrators? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]
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iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful 

for you in your use of REAP funds to support professional development strategies for 

teachers or administrators in your school district?

7d. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on improving or expanding access to 

technology?

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting strategies to improve or expand access to 

technology in your school district? 

b. What other funds are you using to address access to technology and how are they used in 

combination with REAP funds? [The answer to this question should be limited to the actual use 

of REAP funds, not a general description of programs and strategies; therefore, probes should 

not suggest specific strategies, but rather prompt respondents to name their own strategies with 

enough detail to know what kind of strategy is being described, but not elaborate description 

of how each program/strategy works.]

c. Has your school district received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for 

strategies to improve or expand access to technology in your school district? From whom? 

[Probe for technical assistance providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. 

Department of Education, the state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, 

and other technical assistance providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds for strategies to improve or 

expand access to technology? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful 

for you in your use of REAP funds to support strategies to improve or expand access to 

technology in your school district?

7e. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on addressing drug abuse and/or violence 

in your community? Is the emphasis more on drug abuse or violence? (“Both” is an acceptable 

answer.)

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting your school district in its strategies to 

address drug abuse and/or violence in your community? 

b. What other funds are you using to address drug abuse and/or violence in your community and 

how are they used in combination with REAP funds? [The answer to this question should be 

limited to the actual use of REAP funds, not a general description of programs and strategies; 

therefore, probes should not suggest specific strategies, but rather prompt respondents to name 

their own strategies with enough detail to know what kind of strategy is being described, but 

not elaborate description of how each program/strategy works.]

c. Has your school district received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for 

strategies to address drug abuse and/or violence in your community? From whom? [Probe for 

technical assistance providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. Department 
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of Education, the state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, and other 

technical assistance providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds to address drug abuse and/or 

violence in your community? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful 

for you in your use of REAP funds to support your school district in its strategies to address 

drug abuse and/or violence in your community?

7f. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on addressing English language acquisition?

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting strategies to address English language 

acquisition in your school district? 

b. What other funds are you using to address English language acquisition and how are they used 

in combination with REAP funds? [The answer to this question should be limited to the actual 

use of REAP funds, not a general description of programs and strategies; therefore, probes 

should not suggest specific strategies, but rather prompt respondents to name their own 

strategies with enough detail to know what kind of strategy is being described, but not 

elaborate description of how each program/strategy works.]

c. Has your school district received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for 

strategies to address English language acquisition in your school district? From whom? [Probe 

for technical assistance providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. 

Department of Education, the state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, 

and other technical assistance providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds to address English language 

acquisition? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful 

for you in your use of REAP funds to support strategies to address English language 

acquisition in your school district?

7g. Why did your school district choose to focus REAP funds on increasing parental involvement?

a. What has been the role of REAP funds in supporting strategies to increase parental involvement 

in your school district? 

b. What other funds are you using to address parental involvement and how are they used in 

combination with REAP funds? [The answer to this question should be limited to the actual use 

of REAP funds, not a general description of programs and strategies; therefore, probes should 

not suggest specific strategies, but rather prompt respondents to name their own strategies with 

enough detail to know what kind of strategy is being described, but not elaborate description 

of how each program/strategy works.]

c. Has your school district received technical assistance in support of using REAP funds for 

strategies to increase parental involvement in your school district? From whom? [Probe for 

technical assistance providers indicated in Survey Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. Department 
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of Education, the state, Regional Educational Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, and other 

technical assistance providers.] 

i. What kind of technical assistance have you received? How helpful has it been? 

ii. Did the assistance change the way you used REAP funds for strategies to increase parental 

involvement? [If so, probe for concrete examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? 

iv. Do you have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful 

for you in your use of REAP funds to support strategies to increase parental involvement in 

your school district?

8. Has your school district received any assistance to help you meet accounting or reporting 

requirements concerning your school district’s use of REAP funds, or on other aspects of 

administration? [If yes] From whom? [Probe for technical assistance providers indicated in Survey 

Q35 through Survey Q38: the U.S. Department of Education, the state, Regional Educational 

Laboratories, Comprehensive Centers, and other technical assistance providers.] 

a. How useful have you found this assistance to be? [Probe for concrete examples.]

b. Did the assistance change the way you reported or addressed accounting requirements 

concerning your school district’s use of REAP funds? [If so, probe for concrete examples]

REAP FLEX [SRSA district only]

9. Now we want to talk with you about a provision under SRSA called REAP Flexibility. You may also 

know it as SRSA Flexibility, REAP Flex, SRSA Flex, REAPing, or Flexing.

a. How familiar are you with the REAP Flex provision? [If respondent is not familiar with REAP Flex, 

offer a brief description.] What is REAP Flex called in your school district? [Use respondent’s 

preferred terminology going forward.]

b. If respondent’s school district is currently using REAP Flex (“Yes” to Survey Q27), ask: How are 

you using REAP Flex in your school district? [Probe for details, including reasons for choice of 

particular federal Title programs they plan to supplement with Title IIA funds.]

i. Has your school district received technical assistance regarding your use of REAP Flex in the 

current school year? From whom? [Probe for technical assistance on whether to exercise 

REAP Flex authority and how to use it.] 

ii. What kind of technical assistance has your school district received? How helpful has it 

been? How did it change your school district’s use of REAP Flex? [Probe for concrete 

examples.]

iii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? Do you 

have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful for you in 

deciding whether to use REAP Flex or how to use it?

c. If respondent’s school district is not currently using REAP Flex (“No” to Survey Q27), ask: Did your 

school district receive technical assistance regarding whether it could use REAP Flex or how to 

use it in the current school year? From whom? [Probe for technical assistance on whether to 

exercise REAP Flex authority and how to use it.] 

i. What considerations factored into your school district’s decision not to use REAP Flex? 

[Probe for any reasons indicated in Survey Q29] 
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ii. Do you have any suggestions for how the technical assistance could be improved? Do you 

have any suggestions for other types of technical assistance that would be useful for your 

school district in deciding whether to use REAP Flex or how to use it?

d. Do you have any suggestions for changes in REAP Flex that would make it easier to use? That 

would make your school district more likely to use it?

Recommendations for Change

10. How would you describe your school district’s overall satisfaction with the REAP program? How 

would you describe your school district’s overall satisfaction with the administration of the program 

[for SRSA grantees: “by the U.S. Dept. of Education REAP office”; for RLIS grantees: “by your state”]?

11. What recommendations do you have to improve the REAP program? Probe for

 eligibility process?

 formula used to allocate funds? [assuming respondent knows at least something about the 

allocation formulas]

 allowable (for RLIS and SRSA) or authorized (for SRSA using Flex) uses of funds?

12. What recommendations do you have to improve the administration of the program [for SRSA, ask 

about national level administration; for RLIS, ask about state-level administration]? Probe for timing 

of eligibility notification, timing of fund distribution.