The one-room school house was synonymous with education in Nebraska for over a century. In 1901, most of the state's 6,773 schools were identified as one-room schools. While the national movement away from the one-room school house was also occurring in Nebraska, its 385 one-room schools were the most of any state in 1986 (McKee, 2013). The…

Rural districts have long faced challenges in closing achievement gaps between subgroups of students. This brief report describes key decision points and considerations for decision-makers interested in identifying rural districts that have closed academic achievement gaps. Examining practices in these districts may suggest activities associated…

Educators focused on community literacy and public engagement have access to a unique critical platform from which larger social issues that impact us both as a whole and on very personal levels are open to exploration. Being particularly situated to have significant impact on community, literacy work in this area may require uncommon pedagogical…

The "highly qualified teacher" requirement of No Child Left Behind has put pressure on rural school districts to recruit and retain highly qualified regular and special education teachers. If necessary, they may utilize uncertified, rural teachers with provisional certification; however, these teachers may find completing the necessary…

How has a small midwestern rural community college contributed to the growth of the nation's largest direct marketer whose annual earnings exceed $1.5 billion? Discover how Western Nebraska Community College has developed a Corporate Academy and a Corporate Associate of Occupational Studies degree customized to meet the unique needs of employees…

A Nebraska district (Fort Calhoun Community Schools) evolved seven steps toward efficient vertical articulation: find leaders at different levels; create and support a committee; determine what should be articulated; draft a scope-and-sequence paper; review and compare exit objectives/competencies; adapt programs; and review, revise, and update…

Shickley Nebraska is an agricultural community where people have great pride in their school, community, and youth. With 98 percent of the students at the local high school college bound, the town motto is displayed on the brick "Welcome to Shickley" sign, and says "Welcome to Shickley, A Big Little Town." What makes rural…

In rural America, community members are working together to reform education, revitalize communities, and improve the quality of life. This article describes long-term efforts, such as Alabama's PACERS program, Georgia's REAL Enterprises project, and Minnesota's Center for School Change. Smaller-scale efforts in Nebraska, Mississippi, and South…

In rural parts of the nation, such as McCool Junction, Nebraska, schools are taking creative steps to lure new students to local schools in their quests to keep those schools open and their communities intact. Elsewhere, towns and school districts in Kansas are giving away plots of land for home sites. Districts in Kansas are drawing new students…

Although students in rural and small schools have certain advantages over urban students, middle-level students in Nebraska and other rural areas tend to be forgotten students that get all the leftovers, including shared staff, facilities, and schedules. Educators involved in the MARS Project and the Nebraska Middle Level Academy have made several…

Rural schools face significant challenges in upgrading their technology infrastructures. Rural school districts tend to have older school buildings that have multiple problems and lack climate control, adequate space, and necessary wiring. In rural districts, it may be difficult to find the leadership and expertise needed to provide professional…

Describes four small school programs, i.e., curriculum enrichment through use of volunteer instructors, "Saturday Class" assignments for disciplinary purposes, elementary science classes visiting high school classes, and improving basic instruction through meaningful inservice programs. (AH)

As a new form of infrastructure is being developed across the vast prairie of Nebraska, electronic pioneers are leading the way to the information age. This paper describes some of those pioneers and their work. The University of Nebraska has been among the leaders in developing the Internet and applications for it. The university established one…

Nebraska, like the rest of the nation, is experiencing a shortage of teachers in the areas of special education, English as a second language (ESL), mathematics, science, and early childhood education. In addition, a growing emphasis on the importance of teacher quality has collided with the reality of a shortage of qualified teachers. Chadron…

The Central Nebraska Goodwill Industries Transition Model is a process initiated during the freshman year of high school. Involvement begins with assessment/evaluation activities culminating in development of a transition planning component to the Individualized Education Plan. The model includes development of a regional transition advisory…