Rural and low-income schools

The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded $5,038,941 to the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) under the Rural Education program (CFDA 84.358) effective July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This formula grant supports the Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS) program, which provides financial assistance to rural school districts to improve the quality of teaching and learning. As the State Educational Agency (SEA), ALSDE is responsible for distributing these funds to eligible Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) within Alabama that meet program criteria—specifically, LEAs where at least 20 percent of school-age children come from families below the poverty line and all schools are designated as rural by the National Center for Education Statistics school locale methodology.

Under this award, ALSDE will allocate subgrants to eligible rural and low-income LEAs either through formula or competitive distribution mechanisms. The funding enables participating school districts to carry out activities that enhance educational resources, infrastructure, and instructional capabilities tailored to the unique challenges of rural education. Grant funds support activities directly aimed at improving teaching and learning quality in schools serving economically disadvantaged rural populations across Alabama, with ALSDE maintaining oversight and ensuring compliance with federal requirements through the September 30, 2026 completion date.