Establishment of Rural Farm Schools Act

Alternative Delivery Mode: Flexible, nontraditional education including various learning formats such as print, audio, video, tutorials, etc., recognized by DepED.
Rural Farm School: Parallel and alternative secondary education focused on agri-fisheries for rural/agricultural/fishing communities.
Public Rural Farm School: Government-operated rural farm schools, tuition-free except allowed fees.
Private Rural Farm School: Privately operated, tuition-allowed but minimal, fees approved by DepED.
Tutors: Field specialists facilitating education in rural farm schools.
CARP Beneficiaries: Recipients of land ownership under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
Agrarian Reform Community: Barangay or cluster with substantial CARP beneficiaries.
Farm Entrepreneurship: Business ventures combining finance, agriculture, and business.

Instituted as an alternative secondary education mode with a focus on agriculture.
Public rural farm schools are tuition-free; private schools may charge minimal fees.
Relatives of CARP beneficiaries up to the third degree in the descending line are exempted from fees.
DepED sets quality assurance standards, operational guidelines, and curriculum policies.
Aimed to establish at least one public rural farm school per province within one year of implementing rules.

DepED through the Bureau of Secondary Education oversees organization, operation, and curriculum implementation.

Core secondary education curriculum with supplementary agri-fishery courses.
Last two school years emphasize integrative learning and farm entrepreneurship.
Flexible learning philosophy incorporating alternative delivery modes recognized by DepED.

Open to all elementary graduates regardless of age.
Priority admission for relatives of CARP beneficiaries up to third degree if space is limited.

Each rural farm school has a school head responsible for management and professional development facilitation.
Tutors are specialists acting as educators, counselors, rural developers, and project consultants.
Tutors engage with parents via dialogues and workshops.

Public rural farm school personnel receive salaries under the Salary Standardization Law plus benefits.

DepED, DAR, DA, TESDA, and ATI provide ongoing skills training and extension materials.
Educational and teaching materials are supplied to support rural farm school tutors.

DepED sets accreditation standards and accredits schools meeting requirements.
Only accredited rural farm schools may operate; accreditation may be withdrawn for non-compliance.
Accredited private schools and their participants may receive subsidies under relevant laws.

DepED regularly monitors and evaluates schools to ensure accrediting standards and quality assurance compliance.

Donations and grants to accredited rural farm schools are exempt from donor's tax.
Such donations are deductible from the donor's gross income under the NIRC, subject to PCNC accreditation.

Public rural farm schools' operation to be included in DepED programs and funded via the General Appropriations Act.

DepED, in consultation with DA, DAR, TESDA, and ATI, must formulate implementing rules within 90 days of effectivity.