TEA: Title V, Part B Rural and Low-Income School Program
Eligibility
Texas school districts that meet rural eligibility criteria under ESEA and have a sufficient percentage of students from low-income families qualify. Eligibility is determined by district size and locale codes. Check the TEA portal to confirm your district qualifies before applying.
- Eligible: Rural Texas districts meeting ESEA size and locale requirements
- District must have qualifying percentage of low-income students
- Annual application through TEA
- Locale codes determine rural eligibility - check TEA's eligibility list
Program Goals
The Title V, Part B Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) Program provides flexible funding to rural schools serving low-income students. The program recognizes that rural districts face unique challenges in accessing resources, and that small per-pupil amounts from larger federal programs can be too small to be useful on their own.
RLIS funds can be used for a wide range of purposes, including teacher professional development, educational technology, and STEM programs. This flexibility makes it particularly valuable for rural districts with multiple unmet needs.
Application Timeline
RLIS applications are submitted annually through TEA's grant portal. Check tea.texas.gov for the current application window. Districts must confirm rural eligibility status before applying. Work with your district's federal programs coordinator to complete the application.
Funding and Eligible Uses
RLIS funding varies by district size and enrollment. Eligible uses include teacher professional development, educational technology, STEM programs, and instructional materials. The flexibility of this fund is one of its key advantages for rural districts.
Allowable Purchases
RLIS funds can purchase technology, instructional materials, and STEM tools. Physical computing kits and coding curriculum are eligible when connected to your district's improvement priorities.
Forward Education Tools That Qualify
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micro:bit Classroom Kits
Portable, self-contained physical computing tools that work in any classroom without a dedicated lab or special infrastructure. Ideal for rural schools building their first CS program. -
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit
AI literacy curriculum that gives rural students access to technology education available in better-resourced districts. No special setup required. -
Coding for Climate Kit
Environmental coding curriculum with strong connections to rural and agricultural communities. Engages rural students through real-world context they know.
Keep in Mind
Not all small Texas districts qualify. Check TEA's eligibility list before investing time in the application. Eligibility is based on locale codes from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Because RLIS can be used for many purposes, prioritize it for your highest-need area. If technology is your biggest gap, use RLIS to fill it. If teacher training is the priority, use it for PD.
RLIS often stacks well with other rural-focused programs like the Small Rural School Achievement program and TEA rural-targeted grants. Ask your federal programs coordinator about combining sources.
In your application, explain why rural context creates specific challenges your program addresses. Generic applications score lower than those that clearly connect to the rural experience.
Need Help Writing Your Grant Application?
Forward Education works with schools and districts to build strong funding proposals. We can help you connect our tools to your grant requirements.
- Curriculum alignment documents - TEKS and state standards mapped to our kits
- Program quotes and pricing - classroom sets, bundles, and multi-site pricing
- Letters of support - documentation for grant applications
- Project ideas and scope-and-sequence - ready-to-use program outlines
Download the Forward Education Grant Guide
Our grant guide helps educators find the right funding sources and build strong applications for STEM and coding programs.
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