Federal help also is possible. The Qualified Zone Academy Bond Program and USDA's Community Facilities Program provide financing for schools. See descriptions of these programs and links to these programs on OCRE's website. Organizations Concerned about Rural Education supports legislation to provide interest-free financing of school modernization and construction that is before Congress. The proposed legislation leaves the initiative entirely in the hands of states and localities.
School districts borrow the money and repay it to privateborrowers.
The federal role is merely to provide tax credits to those who buy the bonds. The poll was conducted by two firms, Greenberg Quinlan Research, which normally polls for Democrats, and The Tarrance Group, which normally polls for Republicans. The poll was commissioned by the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. OCRE is one of the largest coalitions ever assembled to focus on a single rural issue. A listing of OCREs members and purpose is found in the coalition section of this website.