State Coordinator Contact Info Request Letter

APPENDIX H

Evaluation of the Implementation of the Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS) Program

Letter for RLIS State Coordinator Requesting Contact Information

Dear [State RLIS Coordinator]:

Berkeley Policy Associates (BPA), a research firm located in Oakland, California, is conducting an implementation study of the Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS) Program under contract with the U.S. Department of Education’s Policy and Program Studies Service. Key purposes of the study are to identify how states and LEAs use program funds, assess the progress states and LEAs are making toward RLIS program goals, and gain insights into what factors act as facilitators and barriers to meeting state RLIS goals.

In addition to analyzing achievement data, we will conduct the following research activities with RLIS state coordinators and with a randomly-selected sample of district staff in each state:

• January–March 2009—interviews with district staff.

• April–June 2009—on-line surveys of state and district RLIS staff.

In order to conduct the district interviews and the on-line surveys, we need name, telephone, and e-mail contact information for yourself and for the RLIS-funded districts in your state that have been selected for the interview/survey samples. Could you please respond to Emily Rosenthal of our office with the contact information for the districts shown on the attached list of sample districts? You may fill in the sample form itself, or provide the information in whatever other form you find most convenient.

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact Erica Lee, the study’s monitor at the Department (202-260-1463 or erica.lee@ed.gov), or me, Kay Magill, the study’s project director at Berkeley Policy Associates (510-465-7884 or kay@bpacal.com ). Emily Rosenthal may also be reached at 510-465-7884; her e-mail is emily@bpacal.com.

We thank you and your staff for supporting this important study.

Sincerely,

Kay Magill, Ph.D.

Project Director

Berkeley Policy Associates

440 Grand Avenue, Suite 500

Oakland, California 94610