The position of superintendent has long been characterized by high rates of turnover. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the anticipated length of service of the current superintendents in a Midwestern state. It examined superintendent responses to determine trends affecting length of tenure. The findings of this…

Identifying an appropriate class size is an important decision public schools face as they weigh balancing their budget with the impact class size may have on student achievement. This study examined perceptions of South Dakota kindergarten through third-grade teachers, elementary principals, and superintendents concerning optimal class size and…

Rural America has been experiencing dramatic changes and is becoming an increasingly diverse society. To explore the process by which rural schools define and work towards change, case studies were conducted on two rural schools that have established unusually strong links with their communities. Information was collected by personal interviews…

Belle Fourche High School in South Dakota has developed a curriculum for an entrepreneurial approach to education. This paper contains the history of the school's adoption of this program, as well as course descriptions and standards. In 1988, Belle Fourche High School, Black Hills Special Services Cooperative, and the McREL (Mid-Continent…

Eleven South Dakota school-based teacher educators and eight principals participating in a mentoring program for beginning teachers responded favorably to a college course in supervision and collaboration and to financial compensation given to offset costs of inservice teacher training. Attitudes were more favorable among rural than urban…