The clock is ticking on legislation that gives a financial boost to rural schools with federal land in their districts.
In December, the U.S. House failed to take a vote on legislation reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools program for 2025-26. Legislation was reintroduced in early February, co-sponsored by Congressman Glenn Thompson, R-Pa. It’s currently in committee.
The deadline for reauthorization is March 14, when the current Continuing Resolution for funding the federal government expires. Without reauthorization, payments will end this year.
Kelsey Holt, communications director for Thompson, said, “School districts that rely upon payments from the Secure Rural Schools program should not be put at a disadvantage because of Congress’ inability to pass a piece of legislation that has received bipartisan support for the past two decades. It’s frustrating, and Congressman Thompson has sponsored legislation to ensure the program is reauthorized.”
Historically, rural communities and schools have relied on a share of receipts from timber harvests to supplement local funding for education services and roads. During the 1980s, national policies substantially diminished the revenue-generating activity permitted in these forests. The resulting steep decline in timber sales decreased the revenues that rural counties and school districts received from forest management activities.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS), first enacted in 2000, provides funding for schools, roads and essential services in counties with significant amounts of tax-exempt tracts of land covered by national forests.
Locally, Kane Area School District doesn’t use the program, but instead opted for 25% of gross receipts generated on forest lands. They wouldn’t be impacted by the end of the program, but Superintendent Jeannine Kloss said she’s in favor of the program’s reauthorization.
“Kane Area School District does not opt for SRS over the 25% (1908 Act) funding so we would not be impacted. However, we support the reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools as a lack of reauthorization would mean a significant loss of funding for Forest County and Forest Area schools,” Kloss said. “Rural schools in Pennsylvania are often the backbone of their communities; however, we face unique challenges and have limited resources. Any loss of funding could directly impact academic programs, extracurricular activities, maintenance of buildings, and other operations necessary to provide a quality education that will support students’ future success.”
If Congress doesn’t reauthorize the program, funding will expire and counties could struggle to fund schools, roads and emergency services, stated the National Association of Counties.
Looking back, since 2019, McKean County has received about $2.7 million from the program, while Elk County has received about $2.2 million, all from the Allegheny National Forest.
When Thompson announced the legislation in February, he stated, “Without reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools Program, many local education agencies may miss future payments, through no fault of their own.”
Since its enactment, SRS has provided $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties and 4,400 school districts across 40 states.
The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 1383 and Senate Companion Bill)
