The traditional conception of rural as homogeneously agricultural has become archaic. This paper reviews definitions of rural diversity related to rural special education and proposes a broad definition based upon culture of community and region. In the late 1970s, the National Rural Project identified "problems" in rural special…

This paper explains a college-level journalistic writing project based in Kotzebue, Alaska (called Chukchi News and Information Service) which publishes primarily Eskimo, Indian and Aleut student writing in newspapers and magazines throughout Alaska. The first part of the paper discusses the philosophical underpinnings of developing a publishing…

This paper describes cooperative endeavors involving a team of researchers and the staff of two rural school districts. In early 1990, the researchers asked teachers and administrators in an economically distressed rural Tennessee district (pseudonym Iris) to participate in a study determining school, community, and family characteristics related…

A survey examined the grade retention of learning disabled students in North Dakota and parental aspirations for these students at the postsecondary level. Questionnaires were completed by 251 parents of learning disabled students in grades K-12 in 3 North Dakota regional consortia for special education services. About half reported that their…

Technological developments of the past decade have increased the potential of distance learning and telecommunications to help rural schools overcome disadvantages of remoteness, geographic isolation, lack of specialized staff, and limited program offerings. Classroom-focused distance learning is distance insensitive and involves transmission of a…

Perceived educational strengths and weaknesses of Appalachian schools are examined as indicators of school effectiveness in this study, which is based on the formula that the expectations people have of schools minus the perceptions of how those expectations are met equals a dissonance factor. The School Effectiveness Inventory (SEI), which…

Any public or private, non-profit agency, organization, or institution committed to research in rural education may apply for official endorsement from the National Rural Education Association (NREA) to establish a recognized Rural Education Research Center. The major objectives of NREA endorsement of ongoing or future research include: (1)…

The Delaware Research for Better Schools Rural Assistance Council's (RAC) mission is to develop a rural assistance agenda for the state. The Council stated four objectives: (1) identifying the most pressing needs of Delaware's rural schools and school districts; (2) developing plans, in cooperation with appropriate state organizations, for…

As part of a 3-year school improvement project, the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory conducted statewide issues forums in five states to examine the conditions and needs of rural and small schools. Pre-forum teleconferences were held with advisors in each state to generate prioritized lists of rural educational issues. Advisors gave…

This paper presents an overview of poverty in rural America, and examines the ways in which improved education could alleviate rural poverty. The question of education as a mechanism to reduce poverty includes issues of economic demand and supply. On the demand side, labor market projections indicate that the service sector will continue to grow,…

Rural schools in Utah responded to state and local calls for school reform by implementing Outcome Based Education (OBE) programs beginning in March 1984. Significant improvements in learning have occurred as measured by test scores. Workshops introduced rural educators to OBE which provided a philosophical and operational framework for school…

Vocational and technical training programs for less developed countries offer little in the way of training the intermediate cadres, technicians, and village level workers necessary for modernizing the primary sector on which developing economies depend. Training is vital because it secures cost reduction and maximum use of organization, enables…

The paper provides guidelines to rural school districts developing community support and resources for their gifted education programs. The following seven questions are addressed: (1) Does your gifted/talented program and community need a formal community resource development team? (2) If so, how should it be developed? (3) How can you get other…

It is estimated that nearly 8.5 million people living in rural America possess some form of disabling condition. Strokes are the major cause of disabilities among older persons and accidents are the major cause among teenagers and young adults. This paper provides background information on rehabilitation services in rural areas, some examples of…

An effective teaching technique for a university extension course for rural special education teachers is the respond/read/replicate/report system. The four-step system was developed to stimulate tired, beleaguered teachers with differing experiences, knowledgeability, and teaching/learning styles who drove up to 60 miles on country roads to…