ACRES Innovation Pilot
Agricultural Communities Raising Education & Sustainability Preserving Small School Districts While Growing America's Future The ACRES Innovation Pilot is a five-year initiative focused on preserving small school districts while improving literacy, strengthening agricultural education, expanding workforce development, and creating economic opportunities for students and communities.
To preserve Small School Districts by leveraging agriculture, literacy, entrepreneurship, and community partnerships to create innovative educational environments that strengthen students, families, communities, and America's food system.
Small Independent School Districts serve as centers of educational excellence, agricultural innovation, workforce development, and community prosperity nationwide.
For purposes of the ACRES Innovation Pilot, a Small School District is defined as a public school district serving: 999 students or fewer
Executive Summary
The ACRES Innovation Pilot is a five-year initiative designed to preserve and strengthen Small School Districts while simultaneously improving literacy, increasing attendance, strengthening America's food system, developing future agricultural leaders, and creating new economic opportunities for students and communities. Across America, Small School Districts serve as the educational, social, and economic foundation of countless communities. Yet many of these districts face declining enrollment, financial instability, workforce shortages, and increasing pressure to consolidate. The ACRES Innovation Pilot offers a new approach. By combining agriculture, literacy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, participating districts become centers of innovation that prepare students for the future while strengthening the communities they serve. The pilot recognizes that Small School Districts are not liabilities to be consolidated but assets to be strengthened.
Why ACRES Matters
America faces several challenges simultaneously:
● Declining literacy rates
● Agricultural workforce shortages
● Food insecurity
● Rural economic decline
● Student disengagement
● Financial pressures on Small School Districts
Rather than addressing these issues separately, ACRES tackles them through a single integrated strategy. The pilot transforms participating districts into hubs for learning, food production, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community engagement.
Core Objectives
The ACRES Innovation Pilot seeks to:
● Preserve Small School Districts.
● Improve literacy and academic performance.
● Increase student attendance.
● Strengthen America’s food system.
● Develop future farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs.
● Expand workforce readiness.
● Increase parental and community involvement.
● Support rural economic development.
● Create innovative educational opportunities.
● Reduce the need for district consolidation.
ACRES Innovation District Designation
Participating districts shall be designated as:
ACRES Innovation Districts are encouraged to develop locally designed educational models
that integrate:
● Agricultural Education
● Workforce Development
● Entrepreneurship
● Literacy Enhancement
● Nutrition Education
● Community-Based Learning
● Student-Owned Enterprises
● Family Engagement Programs
This flexibility empowers local communities to create solutions tailored to their unique needs
and strengths.
One of the greatest challenges facing Small School Districts is funding uncertainty tied to
Average Daily Attendance (ADA).
The ACRES Innovation Pilot proposes an Attendance Stabilization Funding Model that allows
participating districts to receive predictable funding while maintaining high attendance
standards.
Districts that maintain:
● A minimum 95% attendance rate,
● Program participation requirements,
● Annual reporting standards,
may continue receiving their full state funding allocation during the pilot period.
This funding stability enables districts to:
● Retain teachers.
● Preserve educational programs.
● Hire specialized staff.
● Invest in innovation.
● Plan for long-term succes
Each participating district shall employ or contract with an Agricultural Education Specialist.
Responsibilities include:
● Student agricultural enterprises.
● Greenhouse operations.
● School gardens.
● Livestock projects.
● Hydroponics and aquaponics.
● Agricultural entrepreneurship.
● Community partnerships.
● USDA Youth Loan coordination.
● Workforce development activities.
This position serves as the bridge between education, agriculture, and community development.
The ACRES Innovation Pilot incorporates the Eatz & Learn model to improve literacy through real-world learning experiences. Every agricultural activity becomes a literacy opportunity.
Students will engage in: Reading
● Agricultural publications
● Nutrition resources
● Technical manuals
● Business materials
● Research articles
Writing
● Business plans
● Farm journals
● Crop reports
● Marketing materials
● Research summaries
Speaking
● Business presentations
● Community reports
● Project demonstrations
● Entrepreneurship pitches
Students learn literacy skills through practical application, increasing engagement and retention.
Students participate in supervised agricultural enterprises that provide hands-on experience and
entrepreneurial opportunities.
Examples include:
● Produce production
● Greenhouse businesses
● Poultry operations
● Livestock projects
● Beekeeping
● Hydroponics
● Aquaponics
● Agricultural services
● Community farmers markets
Students develop:
● Financial literacy
● Business management skills
● Leadership abilities
● Problem-solving skills
● Workforce readiness
● Entrepreneurial experience
Participating students may access USDA Youth Loan Programs to launch approved agricultural
enterprises.
These programs allow students to:
● Own agricultural projects.
● Build business experience.
● Learn financial responsibility.
● Generate income.
● Develop entrepreneurial skills.
Students move beyond classroom instruction and gain real-world business experience.
ACRES recognizes that food security is national security. Participating districts become local food production and education centers that:
● Increase food production.
● Support local farmers and ranchers.
● Strengthen regional food systems.
● Expand agricultural workforce pipelines.
● Improve nutrition education.
● Reduce food insecurity.
Schools become active contributors to community resilience and sustainability.
Unlike traditional educational programs that rely exclusively upon government funding, ACRES creates opportunities for student-led economic activity and community wealth creation. Through agricultural enterprises, students gain business experience while contributing to local
economic growth. Potential Economic Capacity For every 100 students actively participating in approved agricultural enterprises, districts may
create the capacity to support:
● Up to $1,000,000 or more in annual student-led agricultural economic activity.
● New local business development.
● Expanded workforce opportunities.
● Increased local food production.
● Stronger community investment.
Participating districts become educational institutions and economic development engines
Federal Funding and Grant Opportunities
ACRES Innovation Districts are well-positioned to pursue additional funding opportunities.
1
● Youth Loan Programs
● Farm to School Grants
● Community Food Projects
● Local Food Promotion Programs
● Specialty Crop Grants
● Beginning Farmer and Rancher Programs
2
● Workforce Development Grants
● Apprenticeship Programs
● Youth Employment Initiatives
● Career Pathway Programs
● Rural Workforce Development Grants
3
● Comprehensive Literacy Grants
● Family Literacy Programs
● Reading Improvement Initiatives
● Community Learning Center Grants
● Innovative Education Grants
These opportunities create additional resources beyond traditional education funding.
Community Partnership Model
Each ACRES Innovation District shall actively engage:
● Farmers
● Ranchers
● Agricultural businesses
● Veterans
● Parents
● Community organizations
● Local colleges and universities
● Workforce development agencies
These partnerships strengthen the connection between schools and the communities they
serve.
Five-Year Pilot Outcomes
Education
- Improved Literacy Rates
- Increased Attendance
- Higher Graduation Rates
- Enhanced Career Readiness
Agriculture
- Increased Student Participation
- Agricultural Entrepreneurship
- Expanded Food Production
- Career Pathway Development
Economic Development
- Student-Led Economic Activity
- Local Business Growth
- Community Investment
- Workforce Expansion
Community Impact
- District Preservation
- Family Engagement
- Stronger Partnerships
- Rural Sustainability
Conclusion
The ACRES Innovation Pilot provides a practical, innovative approach to preserving Small School Districts while addressing some of America's most pressing challenges. By combining education, agriculture, literacy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, ACRES creates a model that strengthens students, supports families, promotes economic growth, and contributes to a more secure food future. Rather than viewing Small School Districts as systems to be consolidated, ACRES recognizes them as community assets capable of driving educational success, economic opportunity, and agricultural innovation.
Preserving Small School Districts While Growing America's Future
- Preserve the District.
- Grow the Student.
- Feed the Community.
- Strengthen America.