The paper presents preliminary data from a project at the University of Kansas to identify preservice training needs for occupational therapy service delivery to handicapped students in rural education settings. Survey responses of current occupational therapy students at the University of Kansas (N=55) were evaluated as well as responses from…

The paper describes the Rural Special Education Preservice Project which is intended to increase the number of appropriately certified teachers in rural districts and special education cooperatives in Kansas. Problems in the state include a shortage of special education teachers, increased numbers of students qualifying for special education, high…

Rural teachers have few opportunities to learn specific strategies for developing computer literacy among boys and girls in their classrooms. This paper describes an inservice program for rural Kansas teachers that taught skills such as programming, software evaluation, word processing, building a database, and creating lesson plans that involve…

In an effort to draw together a program response to needs of those preparing to teach in rural/small schools, a review of literature is provided, which concludes with an indepth look at a 1982 research project conducted on the topic. It investigates how important some 45 areas of college studies are to success in current teaching assignments of…

This videotape transcript describes Kansas State University's Alternative Teacher Preparation Program for Rural Citizens Seeking a New Career. Three related problems affect education in the Plains States--the devastated rural economy, limited career opportunities in rural areas, and the shortage of teachers of selected subjects in small rural…

Recent societal changes have forced public education to assume many responsibilities that have been the traditional role of parents and family. The sheer number of pressing social problems, their multifaceted nature, and the lack of resources are particularly problematic for rural school districts. The Southeast Kansas Education Service Center…

Research has revealed that more males than females participate in computer learning environments. Rural young women in home and school are conditioned to accept outdated role definitions and may be limited in career and life choices by restricted access to technology and their perception of the female role in technology. In 1988-89, a year long…

A year-long study investigated the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of rural educators concerning gifted learners and their educational needs. Participants were all K-12 teachers (43) and administrators (3) in a single, rural southeastern Kansas school district serving 518 students. During the study, conducted in school year 1985, teachers…

An overview of the status of rural school financing revealed three major reasons why rural schools are facing major problems in financing today: (1) school reforms have generally failed to address the specific needs of rural and small schools; (2) researchers have failed to recognize small school differences in their collection, classification and…

Providing cost-effective services in 15 counties of Southeast Kansas, the Infant and Early Childhood Intervention Program (IECIP) teaches parents to provide daily one-to-one therapy in gross and fine perceptual motor development, speech and language development, social adjustment, and behavior management for developmentally delayed children from…

University for Man (UFM) has developed into a major national organization, impacting the worlds of lifelong learning, alternative education, and rural and community resource development. It was founded in 1968 when Manhattan, Kansas, residents secured several hundred dollars from the Kansas State University student government to organize seven…

During the spring of 1993, a needs assessment was conducted in rural Kansas communities to determine existing services and community strengths available to special needs children. Interviews were conducted with a cross section of the community regarding community resources, collaboration, parent and family involvement, planning processes, and…

This presentation describes a curriculum revitalization project begun in Spring, 1983 in Baxter Springs, Kansas. The cooperative "effective schools" effort used a broad base of support to establish a director of curriculum, create new school-university ties, focus a reading K-12 curriculum improvement effort, and hold instructional…

Papers and materials contributed by four panelists are provided from a panel presentation. "Unlocking Potential in Gerontology" (Theodore W. Wischropp) explains the make-up and organization of two consortia involved in the aging projects in Kansas, briefly describes three federally funded grants, and addresses some issues from the…

This report summarizes a study examining the current conditions and unique nature of rural schools in Kansas. The purpose of the study was to identify problems that could be addressed through educational policy and state legislation. A literature review reports on the distinctive nature of rural life, factors leading up to school consolidation,…