(a) Alternative uses

(1) In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an eligible local educational agency may use the applicable funding that the agency is eligible to receive from the State educational agency for a fiscal year to carry out local activities authorized under any of the following provisions:

(A) Part A of subchapter I.

(B) Part A of subchapter II.

(C) Subchapter III.

(D) Part A or B of subchapter IV.

(2) Notification

An eligible local educational agency shall notify the State educational agency of the local educational agency’s intention to use the applicable funding in accordance with paragraph (1), by a date that is established by the State educational agency for the notification.

(b) Eligibility

(1) In general

A local educational agency shall be eligible to use the applicable funding in accordance with subsection (a) if—

(A)(i)(I) the total number of students in average daily attendance at all of the schools served by the local educational agency is fewer than 600; or

(II) each county in which a school served by the local educational agency is located has a total population density of fewer than 10 persons per square mile; and

(ii) all of the schools served by the local educational agency are designated with a locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary;

(B) the agency meets the criteria established in subparagraph (A)(i) and the Secretary, in accordance with paragraph (2), grants the local educational agency’s request to waive the criteria described in subparagraph (A)(ii); or

(C) the local educational agency is a member of an educational service agency that does not receive funds under this subpart and the local educational agency meets the requirements of this part.

(2) Certification

The Secretary shall determine whether to waive the criteria described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) based on a demonstration by the local educational agency, and concurrence by the State educational agency, that the local educational agency is located in an area defined as rural by a governmental agency of the State.

(c) Applicable funding defined

In this section, the term “applicable funding” means funds provided under any of the following provisions:

(1) Part A of subchapter II.

(2) Part A of subchapter IV.

(d) Disbursement

Each State educational agency that receives applicable funding for a fiscal year shall disburse the applicable funding to local educational agencies for alternative uses under this section for the fiscal year at the same time as the State educational agency disburses the applicable funding to local educational agencies that do not intend to use the applicable funding for such alternative uses for the fiscal year.

(e) Applicable rules

Applicable funding under this section shall be available to carry out local activities authorized under subsection (a).