U.S. Senator Susan Collins today announced that she has called upon the President and his administration to continue funding for the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP). Yesterday, Senator Collins and Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Jim Nussle requesting the continuation of the REAP program in the FY2009 budget request. The REAP program provides support for America’s rural public schools and their students through supplemental grant funding.
Rural schools in America often have difficulty affording all aspects of their students’ education due to the associated poverty and the additional costs required to service students covered over many square miles. It is estimated that one-third of America’s schools and 21% of its public school students would benefit from the continuation of this program.
Locally, 120 schools in Maine were the recipients of more than $1.65 million of support when the 2007 REAP funding was announced in September. Since the introduction of the REAP program in 2002, Maine’s schools have received over $10.53 million.
“This is a critical issue,” noted Senator Collins. “Rural schools—like many of those in Maine—often suffer from chronic under-funding, causing the local students to suffer. I will work to see that this program’s good work is continued.”
Senator Collins coauthored legislation that created the REAP program in 2002.
The text of the letter follows:
Dear Mr. Nussle:
As you prepare the President’s fiscal year 2009 budget request, we urge you to continue funding for the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP), a program designed to provide crucial additional support to rural schools throughout the nation.
We greatly appreciate the Administration’s support of this valuable program by including funding for it in last year’s budget request. We ask that you preserve this funding and provide an increase so that the program may continue to grow. Nearly one-third of America's public schools are in rural places, and more than 21 percent of our public school students attend these schools. This is the only dedicated federal funding stream to aid rural school districts in overcoming the increased expenses caused by geographic isolation.
We firmly believe that this initiative addresses the unique needs of small, rural school districts, as well as low-income, rural school districts, while ensuring accountability. In many cases, current federal formulas do not produce enough revenue to carry out the purposes the grant is intended to fund. Small, rural school districts often forgo federal education dollars because they lack the personnel and the resources to apply for competitive grants. By allowing school districts to combine funds, as well as providing additional funds based on enrollment, these districts are finally achieving the critical mass of funding required to undertake significant reform.
Funds from this program have already helped to fund new technology in classrooms, distance learning opportunities, and professional development activities, as well as a vast array of other programs which will help rural districts make progress towards the goals of No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Because NCLB formula programs, such as Title I, are funded on a per pupil basis, small rural schools do not see the benefits from increases in Title I allocations that larger school systems may receive.
This funding is particularly important now that accountability and testing requirements of NCLB have expanded the demands on local school administrators. This impact is most deeply felt in rural districts where the superintendent often serves as the sole administrator and is responsible for implementing these reforms.
As the coauthors of this important legislation, we urge your continued support of REAP to meet the needs of our nation's small and rural schools. We thank you for your consideration of our request.
###