The author appreciates the opportunity to reply to Professor Eppley's comment on her paper that was recently published in the "Journal of Research in Rural Education" (Stockard, 2011b). Eppley's paper contains numerous statements that misrepresent both the content of the author's original paper and the social science literature as well as a number…

The increased pressure for gains in academic performance in mathematics and science are not going to dissipate, and rural schools must find a way to meet these challenges. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Carl D. Perkins Federal Vocational and Technical Education Act legislations have also put pressure on career and technical education…

In Wainwright, a small Eskimo village on the North Slope of Alaska, there is little relationship between education and future prospects. The result is low academic achievement. (Author)

Describes certain historical and cultural issues associated with the low academic achievement of Alaska Native students in Alaska public schools. Argues that high-stakes testing alone will not improve the academic performance of Alaska Native students; in fact, it may exacerbate the problem. Recommends the adoption of a new generation of…

The author commends Drs. Bemak, Chung, and Siroskey-Sabdo on their efforts to connect with and empower African American adolescent females. However, he does have some concerns regarding their Empowerment Groups for Academic Success (EGAS) approach to empowering this particular group of students. While he agrees with the authors about the…

Presents information on trends in school district size, briefly considers the relationship between school size and student performance, discusses the rationale and consequences of consolidation of small and rural schools, and briefly outlines positive views on small schools. (IAH)

Haas criticizes Kannapel et al for conducting their "rural" research with school professionals and asks what it would take for rural schools to engage their communities and what, besides geography, makes a school rural. Kannapel et al claim that community concerns are not limited to rural schools and that advocates of systemic reform and…

Educational research, unfortunately, often focuses on finding statistical differences between overall means or averages. Media reports of research routinely present those differences and little else. This paper discusses the importance of considering the spread of the data in addition to the center and how this is relevant to research focused on…

Between 1968 and 1991, the number of middle schools in the United States quadrupled from about 2,000 to more than 8,500. A study in four states--Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia--suggests a connection between pursuit of the middle school concept, school closings, and diminished chances for the survival of rural communities. (MLF)

There are major differences between rural and urban education, yet most educational reform efforts have been heavily urban oriented. While reform movements of the 1980s may have benefited urban schools, they have only added to the problems of rural education. Some of the conditions often associated with rural schools are: poverty, reform generated…

The Alaska School Effectiveness Project produced several reports in a series of reviews of research literature on such topics as computer-assisted instruction. Using an ERIC search and conventional library methods, the question raised was "Does computer-assisted instruction (CAI), when combined with traditional instruction, lead to higher…

Based on the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) recent report, this article provides the foundation for state accountability systems that focus on improvement. Contains NASBE's proposed Public Policy Position on Low Performing Schools. (Contains 14 references.) (Author/MLF)

Twenty percent of the children enrolled in rural and small-town schools are non-Caucasian, children of color. As in nonrural schools, rural schools have yet to close the achievement gap across various racial and economic subgroups of this diverse population. Overall, rural students perform as well as or better than their nonrural peers on…

During 2001, rural people from across South Carolina met to discuss how their schools are faring in the new environment of increased accountability and testing. This report identifies six foundations that are essential for building stronger rural schools. Eliminating poverty and improving the health and overall well-being of rural residents could…

Describes a project that was developed to determine the potential of computer-based instruction for meeting the needs of elementary students in small, rural school settings. Highlights include computer-managed instruction; the importance of local context, including administration, parents, and staff; and the impact on student achievement, school…