Rural school success is crucial for the Nebraska education system. Without rural schools, many students and families would be without access to high quality educational opportunities. Despite the importance of rural education, the number of rural schools in Nebraska continues to decline, and "one thing is clear from academic research on rural…

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 mainstream discourse, rural generally implies white, while urban signifies not-white. However, what happens when "rural" communities experience demographic change? This paper examines how students from a rural, New Latino Diaspora community in a Midwestern state complicate traditional notions of rurality. Data from participant…

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…

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…

An analysis of the proposed changes to Nebraska's school finance formula and school structure shows that many of Nebraska's rural schools could suffer from imposition of a "small by choice" factor. Research has consistently shown that smaller schools have some advantages over their larger counterparts. The 2005 session of the Nebraska…

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…

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…

This legislative hearing focuses on Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, and South Dakota's drug-prevention efforts. The emphasis here is on the efforts of rural states, rural communities, rural schools, and families to combat drug and alcohol abuse. Drug-free school programs are particularly emphasized. Also discussed are the issues various…

Examines 3 stabilizing principles of small town organization that are intertwined with the survival of local schools: (1) centripetalism (inwardly focused community involvement); (2) inclusiveness of local associations and activities; and (3) distinctive identity. Discusses the effects of state pro-consolidation policies on rural economic…

This study of Nebraska's existing school structure (i.e., costs, curriculum offerings, and organization) is part of an interstate project on school district reorganization. Historical development of education in Nebraska and national trends in school district reorganization are discussed. Seven guidelines for planning and implementing a statewide…

The main objective of this study was to procure reliable information on the education, experience, and general character of the rural teaching force of Nebraska, together with the first-hand knowledge of some of the conditions contributing to the home and school environment of these teachers. This knowledge was obtained by means of a…

The School at the Centre pilot project in Queensland, Australia, seeks to assess the transferability to Queensland of the philosophy and practice of the Nebraska-developed School at the Center program. The pilot project consists of three phases: information gathering, planning, and implementation and evaluation. This report covers work done during…

Based on interviews with State Education Department personnel, this report presents information regarding the status of rural education in the seven-state region (Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming) served by the Mid-Continent Regional Laboratory. Of the 2,400 school districts in this region, 93 percent…

Rural Amrica has been experiencing dramatic changes in the transition toward a socially and culturally diverse society. This study is a first effort to explore multicultural reform in rural schools. Multicultural education is the process by which the school environment is modified to accommodate cultural differences as well as to teach the role…