Describes the National Assessment of Educational Progress Model and outlines and advocates its application in research on rural social studies. Notes its usefulness in assessment situations. Explains how the model will produce data descriptive of a target population and will permit the comparison of local and national results. (SB)

A study of 198 students and 43 educators examined computer attitudes and knowledge in rural settings. Educators and students had positive attitudes toward computers. Educators demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels than students. Over half of the students and about one-third of the educators indicated having a computer at home. (JHZ)

Evaluates effectiveness of resource teacher services in mainstreamed rural classrooms in four districts in Quebec. Finds relationships between distance, staff ratio, interpersonal skills/competence, and rate of service delivery. Verifies Hurder theory that service delivery is influenced by access, disposition, and organization variables. (LFL)

Uses responses of 77 teachers from eight Illinois rural high schools to 36-item survey to assess amount of time students devote to homework; existence of school homework policy; purpose and type of homework assignments; teacher review, feedback, and grading of homework; and value and significance of assigning homework. (NEC)

Provides an overview of some of the problems faced by teachers in rural and small schools and advances the need for inservice and preservice programs to teach special competencies necessary for teachers in rural communities. (SB)

Reviews the research literature on continuing professional education for teachers and administrators in rural areas. Discusses conceptual contradictions in rural writings, describes research needs for rural staff development, suggests appropriate methodology for rural school studies, and calls for a national research agenda for rural education.…

Superintendents, principals, and teachers from a statistical sample of small schools throughout the United States completed a needs assessment questionnaire. Concerns seemed less related to curriculum and academics and more related to teacher and student attitude, motivation, and general well-being. Significant differences were found between the…

Reviews factors that may impede the delivery of useful and appropriate diagnostic-intervention services to rural disabled children. Discusses rural parent, educator, school, and community factors as well as state and national policies that must be considered to ensure the provision of quality services to rural students. (JHZ)

Reports on the education provided by three rural Australian central schools, as perceived by their administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Emphasizes the importance of the central school as a community focal point, the benefits of small class size, and the desire for a broader curriculum. Contains 10 references. (SV)

A survey of rural school administrators and college education faculty assessed attitudes toward educating the disabled and opinions about characteristics of effective rural education. Results documented a knowledge and attitude gap between rural and college educators. Both groups were unaware of issues identified in the research literature on…

Sums up the current status of rural education research, offers explanations for the present situation, and argues for two essential steps in developing a rural research and development agenda: adoption of overarching research paradigms to guide future inquiry and consensus concerning the substantive issues to be studied. (JHZ)

Economies of scale frequently have been advanced as a rationale for rural school consolidation. This article defines the economies of scale principle; describes its application to public education; and reviews selected studies, 1959-86, from a rural education perspective. Notes the possible overstatement of economics of scale in some studies.…

Based on findings of a questionnaire sent to small and large high schools (enrollments of under 500 and over 1,000) and on visits to small high schools in rural areas, this article offers five specific suggestions for improving the use of correspondence study for high school students. (JHZ)

Reviews current trends in the restructuring of rural economies and labor markets. Outlines metro-nonmetro differences in earnings and production sector job growth, by years of school completed. Discusses rural and community development solutions to local economic problems and the role of education in such development. Contains 15 references. (SV)

In many states renewed attempts at school reorganization may be the sole policy response to solving the rural school improvement issue. Reorganization should be resisted because benefits of reorganization are mixed, good rural schools have many strengths, and the demise of rural schools will damage the infrastructure of rural America. (JHZ)