American Association of School Administrators

Original supporters: Barrett, R-Neb.; Pomeroy, D-N.D PASSED 10/21/99

The Rural Education Initiative was included in H.R. 2, The Student Results At of 1999

The House Education and the Workforce Chairman William Goodling, R-Pa., included the rural education proposal in his bill H.R. 2 re-authorizing Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in October, 1999.

S. 1225

Original Supporters include: Collins, R-Maine; Gregg, R-N.H.; Conrad, D-N.D.; Burns, R-Mont.; Kerrey, D-Neb.; Hagel, R-Neb.; Hutchinson, R-Ark.; Grams, R-Minn., Murkowski, R-Alaska, Dorgan, D-S.D, Allard, R-Colo., and Gorton, R-Wash.

PASSED 3/9/00 in the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee. The Rural Education Initiative was included in S.2, the Educational Opportunities Act, now called The Small, Rural School Achievement Program.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Jim Jeffords, R-Vt., included the bill in the ESEA re-authorization bill. The Committee passed S. 2 in March, 2000.

Background

Policy:

While there is a rural education title in the current Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the language is very weak and it has never been funded. With over one-third of America’s public schools are in districts with less than 800 students, AASA spearheaded an effort to establish a separate funding stream for these small, rural schools. We acted because we know many federal formula programs and grants either never trickle to small/rural schools, or there isn’t enough money to make an impact.

These bills would allow small (less then 600 students) districts in rural communities (using the Rural-Urban Continuum Codes of 6-9 in the House bill or the U.S. Dept. of Education School Locale Code of 7 in the Senate bill) to apply for this new program. The district could combine Title II, Title IV, Title VI and the Class-size Reduction Act into one pot and then receive additional funds amounting to as much as $60,000 in some cases.

Politics:

With support for the Rural Education Initiative Act increasing on the Hill and the Administration, the biggest concern we have is to convince non-rural members of Congress that this is a bill they should be supporting. The estimate for funding the program is $70-100 million, a relatively small amount by Washington standards. Since these funds do not decrease the levels of other federal education programs, the new rural bill would only strengthen public education, not diminish it in any way.

AASA Position:

Never before in Washington has the rural education voice been as loud as it is this year. Besides the AASA initiated proposal, several other bills that have been introduced for rural schools: teacher recruitment, direct funding, and low interest housing loans. While AASA supports many of these bills, the Rural Education Initiative Act is the bill in motion with the most grassroots support and Hill interest.

For further information visit the AASA web site at:

Rural Initiative

AASA Contacts:

Jordan Cross 703-875-0764 or jcross@aasa.org

Kari M. Arfstrom 703-875-0759 or karfstrom@aasa.org