Some rural communities are growing, some are withering. Proposed federal legislation aimed at assisting rural schools is reviewed, and the fact that Congress has not yet fully funded the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1975 is noted. When the school is the center of the community and when that school is adequately funded and respected, the…

In this response to commentaries by Ali Sammel, Jhumki Basu and Alberto Rodriguez, I present my perspective on three important issues raised by the commentators. These issues relate to the role of a researcher in her field settings and society, the critique of science and science education as oppressive dominant discourses, and co-opting…

Although rural schools often are the center of community life, ownership of rural education is not necessarily vested in all elements of the community. Without diligent planning, many members of the rural community do not become stockholders in the community's largest enterprise, public education. The program approach to public education has…

This paper describes a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located at the Central Arizona College. Schools are responsible for assisting economic development in the small business and business community since industry spends $22 billion per year in retraining high school graduates and dropouts in basic education. In Pinal County, Arizona,…

Because of their visibility at the center stage of community life, small-town superintendents have a greater opportunity to act as participatory managers and instructional leaders. This paper reports the results of surveys with 25 small-town school superintendents to discover rural/urban differences, work patterns, and exemplary practices in…

Several problems exist with the rural knowledge base as it is traditionally conceived: (1) there is no useful rural definition with the diverse rural reality; (2) rural is undervalued as reflected in teacher education and training and in the stereotyping of regions in the country; (3) issues of sparsity, scarcity and size are disregarded, and (4)…

This paper reviews the key recommendations of the New York State Education Department's Regents-approved statewide learning technologies plan. Strategies for addressing recommendations pertaining to "producer-consumer forums,""development of model staff development programs," and "technology applications for at-risk…

Rural poverty causes implementation of P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, to be uniquely different from urban implementation. Rural areas may try to emulate urban policies, where it is possible to identify and group severely handicapped children for appropriate services, but in rural areas the availability of…

The inclusion of a geographical isolation factor in a state's distribution formula for foundation aid is a mechanism for providing additional revenue to small schools or school districts that, because of geographical location, cannot be consolidated into more efficient units. This paper presents a model geographical isolation factor that could be…

Essays by Marv Weiss and Bruce Bryden; Jerry Young; D. Kent Sharples; and Kermit Lidstrom and Jordis Conrad identify issues and problems of particular concern to small, rural colleges, including student retention, faculty recruitment, image building, and the colleges' role in economic development. (DMM)

Students who live in rural areas will almost certainly leave those areas for occupations in larger city areas when they reach adulthood. Therefore, the child needs to receive the best education possible to prepare for an unknown future. This paper discusses some of the characteristics of rural schools, especially the plethora of children living in…

Many instructional strategies which characterize small alternative schools in urban areas are applicable to small rural schools as well. Philosophical and organizational assumptions and educational methods used in successful alternative schools are discussed. (PP)

Because 98% of Americans live outside of urban areas, the future of American education in the decades ahead is closely linked to what happens in our small towns and rural schools. Equal educational opportunity for all students entails equal resource distribution and commitment by educators and communities. (Author/CM)

Considers characteristics of rural gifted students, rural family and community attitudes and school conditions relevant to rural gifted students' underachievement. Recommends active administrator support for gifted programs, and the use of acceleration as an equitable, effective, and cost-efficient strategy for rural gifted education. 41…

Reviews the comprehensive mission of rural community colleges, arguing that they are major elements in the life of their service areas and must meet community needs. Describes the role of rural college presidents and the importance of environmental scanning. Reviews challenges facing rural institutions in the future. (MAB)