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MREA Seeks REAP Input to Drive Federal Conversations

By March 22, 2026No Comments

MREA Seeks REAP Input to Drive Federal Conversations

 The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP, or Title V, Part B) is a grant program designed to address the unique needs of rural school districts that may lack the personnel and resources to compete effectively for Federal competitive grants and that often receive grant allocations in amounts that are too small to be effective in meeting their intended purposes.

REAP consists of two formula grant programs:

  • Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA): Department makes grants directly to local educational agencies (LEAs). To be eligible a district, charter or coop must be small <600 students and identified as rural by a Federal Locale Code or by a state agency.
  • Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS): Department makes grants to State educational agencies (SEAs); SEAs administer subgrants to LEAs. To be eligible a district, coop or charter must be rural and have 20% of students in families below the poverty line.

Download this slide deck from USDOE from 2024 to learn more.

REAP_map

View the Interactive Map

REAP received a 2.3% increase in funding from FY25 to FY26 ($220 m to $225m), one of the few Federal Education programs to receive an increase. However, the FY26 Master Eligibility list has not been published.  FY25 is the last year with a master list.

View FY25 Master Eligibility List for Minnesota school districts and cooperatives.

Find your school district on MREA’s interactive map.

This week, MREA will have two Board Members: Karla Beck of Redwood Falls and Melissa Sunderman of New Ulm join Fred Nolan, MREA’s Interim Executive Director at the US Capitol visiting with Representatives and Senators or their staff regarding Federal Funding, REAP funding with the current status of the USDOE, the need to inform districts in a timely manner, and ensure the flow of REAP funding will be part of their conversation.

If you were eligible for a REAP allocation in FY25, would you please take a few minutes TODAY to respond to this short survey of your experiences last spring and this year and whether you have received notification regarding your FY26 REAP allocation?

Take the REAP Survey