RSAI membership is open to all Iowa school districts that share the values and mission in advocating for students in rural schools to assure a fair, equal, and quality education. Affiliate membership is open to Governmental Entities, Community Colleges, and Universities sharing the values and mission of RSAI upon approval by the RSAI Leadership Group. RSAI membership is organized into four regions. View the regional boundaries and current members in the RSAI Membership Map.

Benefits of RSAI Membership

RSAI offers many benefits to member school district superintendents, board members, business managers, and others on a leadership track. Below are some membership benefit highlights:

• RSAI Legislative Priorities: Set by a truly grassroots one-district-one-vote democratic process.
• Advocacy Supports: Position Papers associated with each legislative priority to share with legislators, board members, parent/advocacy groups or other organizations. Written and Video Recap Reports on legislative actions and advocacy steps each week of the legislative session. Calls to Action on priorities at key points during the session when specific advocacy action is required.
• Testimony: RSAI provides written and/or verbal testimony regarding proposed issues, rules and legislation to key legislative and executive branch decision-makers.
• Representation: RSAI Professional Advocates, Margaret Buckton and Dave Daughton, represent RSAI member schools at the statehouse during the Legislative Session and work with the executive branch during the interim. RSAI also recruits participants for policymakers seeking rural school input.
• Media: RSAI engages media to connect with rural school leaders and helps inform the public and policymakers about the needs of rural schools, creative approaches to improving efficiency and effectiveness, and the amazing education rural schools deliver to students.
• Networking: RSAI is a member of the Iowa Rural Development Council, the Iowa affiliate of the National Rural Education Association (NREA), and the National Rural Education Advocacy Consortium (NREAC), which share federal actions important to rural schools, notices of grants and funding opportunities, and best practices. 
• ISFIS Support: Iowa School Finance Information Services (ISFIS) provides RSAI association management and legislative advocacy functions, maintains the RSAI website and membership database, staffs RSAI meetings, and provides communications, school finance, and other legislative support services.
• Member-Only Programs:
  • NASDTEC Licensure Checks: RSAI members receive free licensure checks through the National Association of State Departments of Teacher Education and Credentials (NASDTEC), which otherwise could cost $100s of dollars.
  • Grant Notifications & Supports: Coordinates or connects RSAI members with grant opportunities such as the Governor's Teacher Para-Educator Registered Apprenticeship (TPRA), Wellmark Foundation School-Centered Behavioral Health, and others.
  • ISFIS Discount with Board/Policy Hosting Service: ISFIS also provides a $100 discount to RSAI membership fees if member districts also use the ISFIS Board/Policy Hosting Service.

 Download the listing of RSAI Membership Benefits
 

RSAI will...

• Educate others about the value of rural education to the state's economy and future of Iowa as an educational leader in the nation and world;
• Build the capacity and understanding of other groups with similar interests on legislative and educational issues to create a strong voice;
• Share best practices of great education programs while under the budget constraints of fewer students, how best to innovate, share first-class and promote efficiency;
• Secure adequate resources, academic and financial, to provide first-class educational opportunities for students in rural communities; and
• Maintain local control through the flexibility and authority of locally elected School Boards. 

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