The Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) has been studying the four-day school week since 2015. Since then, the phenomenon of the four-day school week has spread into non-rural areas and interest appears to be growing. Given these apparent changes, the author wanted to know more about recent trends in the initiative. As districts continue…

In this descriptive and comparative study, we present results highlighting the complexity and scope of the challenges facing rural districts as they navigate the changing demographics of the students and families they serve. Rapid increases in the number and concentration of racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse students in rural areas…

Many reports on rural education give little attention to digital learning. At most, they tend to note either infrastructure needs or the potential of remote course access, with little focus on instruction, outcomes, or exemplars. This report intends to begin correcting that imbalance by connecting the dots between rural regions, rural education,…

We explain in this article the need for board training in rural America irrespective of industry or government sector. We discuss how an assessment of training needs has led to the launch of a new project called the National Board Basics Curriculum (NBBC) project. In this project, we have identified four key core competencies that every board…

In the 1940s, the Montana Study focused on engaging the University of Montana in outreach efforts in small towns, developing mechanisms to stabilize the family and small communities and improve the quality of small-town life. Its most popular activity was the creation of over a dozen community study groups aimed at community cultural renewal. (SV)

This report describes the initial efforts and current status of implementing supplemental educational services (SES) in the Northwest Region states, identifies information gaps and areas of further inquiry, and delineates concerns and challenges for the state education agencies. It is an exploratory effort to identify issues for deeper examination…

Highlights a rural Montana family's experience with limited availability of special-education personnel and services for their severely disabled son. Suggests ways to improve rural special education services, including a flexible planning process, partnerships with university programs, use of information technology, and support networks. (KS)

Three professional development approaches have shown promise in raising the competency level of early childhood professionals in rural areas. Provider registry systems gather information that provides a foundation for further professional development initiatives and systemic development. Statewide professional development systems designed to serve…

Intermountain Community Learning and Information Centers are the result of work begun in 1977 by Utah State University and are based on use of rural libraries in a new information and education function. Support from the Western Rural Development Center permitted the Cooperative Extension Services, state libraries, and continuing educators from…

In response to a shortage of special education teachers in Montana, a pilot emergency endorsement program (Office of Public Instruction Special Education Endorsement Project) was initiated in 1987. During 1988-97, the program enrolled 110 students, all of whom were simultaneously employed as teachers. Of these, 71 completed the program and…

To restructure and strengthen special education services, Montana has supported growth of its Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) Council at the state level and has initiated councils in its five special-education regions. Montana's organizational structure for CSPD and the systems approach used for state and regional strategic…

The teacher education program at Western Montana College helps preservice teachers understand how the local context of the rural school and its community impacts student learning and the teacher's role. Coursework and multiple field experiences help preservice teachers identify their own cultural background and give them experience in teaching…

The Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space held a hearing in Billings, Montana, on rural America's access to the National Information Infrastructure (NII) and uses of NII in the provision of rural education and services. An Assistant Secretary of Commerce discussed the development of the Internet, problems in rural access to the…

This paper discusses the market for rapidly expanding information technology and the benefits of developing community computer networks. Accessible low-cost community networks allow rural communities to provide specific training and educational opportunities tailored to their needs. However, communities must assess the value of connectivity…

The Stanford Achievement Test was administered to 2,186 of the 47,045 Montana high school students to analyze whether or not school size is important in determining student achievement, and to analyze factors that affect student achievement and whether those factors vary by school size. The sample included 1,311 sophomores and 875 seniors. To…