Target: Bill Cassidy, Chair of Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Goal: Do not drop investments in student and teaching services at rural schools.
For years, rural school districts have been able to increase technology resources, provide tutoring and graduation assistance services, create targeted programs for special education, STEM, and arts students, and undertake a plethora of other advancements because of a concerted federal investment in better opportunities for schools with less than 600 students. The Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) was a key source of funding for these opportunities. But thanks to continued efforts from the U.S. Department of Education to undermine and abolish these investments, REAP and its many benefits could soon be no more.
The department is proposing rolling REAP and at least 17 other department programs into one large block grant that experts say will disproportionately be used for larger and wealthier schools. Secretary Linda McMahon seemed to display her lack of knowledge about her own department by claiming REAP wasn’t effective (while providing no verifiable evidence) and by mischaracterizing the process (a process rural schools value as streamlined and hassle-free) for obtaining assistance. This is the very same secretary that has proudly stated it as her goal to dismantle and end the Department of Education.
The secretary recently faced a grilling from both sides of the aisle regarding her plans and the fate of REAP in particular, as Congress will ultimately have to sign off on this scheme. Sign the petition below to demand elected leaders fight for the futures of their rural constituents.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Cassidy,
“These resources are vital in helping us maintain programs, services and opportunities for our students.”
“Rural districts rely on REAP because it is simple, direct and does not require extensive administrative capacity.”
“Applying for competitive federal grants is time-consuming and complex. Larger districts are hiring grant writers who have the specialized expertise and who have time. That’s exactly why we have the REAP program. It was designed by Congress to help fill that gap.”
The aforementioned are just a few of the statements rural education leaders have made about what the Rural Education Achievement program means to them. The personal stories are many more. Please take special note of the last sentence of the last statement: “designed by Congress.”
The one thing all elected leaders have in common is that they represent people spanning communities large and small. Most leaders, including you, have likely heard from your constituents about the unique challenges faced in rural education, from technology gaps to staffing shortages. This program – created by Congress – is far too important to be gobbled up into other programs with no clear destination. Do not let it become the collateral damage of a Department of Education marked for self-destruction.
Fight for REAP, and fight for rural education.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Gonzalo 8a
