Rural and low-income schools

The Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded $5,796,318 in Rural Education formula grant funding (CFDA 84.358) to the California Department of Education, Fiscal and Administrative Services Division, for the period July 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This Rural and Low-Income Schools grant program provides financial assistance to rural school districts to improve the quality of teaching and learning, with funds distributed on a formula basis to eligible Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that meet specific rural and low-income criteria established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

The California Department of Education distributed these funds as sub-awards to 28 rural and low-income school districts throughout California, including Oroville Union High School District, Palermo Union Elementary, Oroville City Elementary School District, Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District, and numerous other LEAs. The sub-awarded funds support a range of educational services and activities designed to enhance teaching and learning outcomes in rural communities, including curriculum and instructional improvements, technology integration, teacher professional development, school facilities and conditions enhancement, and support for specialized student populations such as English language learners and at-risk students. All sub-awards were issued on January 6, 2026, providing one-year grants to eligible school districts to carry out federally supported educational initiatives that address the unique challenges of rural education.