A total of 144 teachers from rural and urban schools in North Dakota responded to open-ended questions related to students' behavior problems. Differences between students from rural and urban schools are described in the areas of serious behavior problems, handling behavior problems, and eliminating behavior problems. (Author/NEC)

The study compared academic progress and behavioral ratings of students in an interrelated special education program with those of students in a categorical program. Subjects were 92 mildly disabled students from two rural special education cooperatives. Results indicated that overall student performance did not differ significantly between the…

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)

Provides an overview of how one rural state (Vermont) and respective educational partners (local schoolteachers, administrators, school board, and higher education faculty members) reviewed the effective school research, various models for school improvement alternative data collection instruments, and procedures for analyzing student test data.…

Administrative changes were tabulated for 275 rural Kansas school districts with K-12 operations. Data covering a six-year period showed high school principals changing most frequently, followed by middle/junior high school principals, high school assistant principals, and elementary principals. Central office personnel and superintendents…

Recent college graduates (N=162), teaching in schools of 600 or fewer students, rated the importance--to success in teaching--of 45 areas of college studies. Only two areas were rated below the mid-point on the scale of importance. Oral communications, discipline, classroom management, teaching major specialty, and motivating students were rated…

Describes the state networks of education service agencies (ESAs) in Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Wisconsin. Compares state ESA accreditation programs with regard to intent, evaluation methods, standards employed, use of performance indicators, and sanctions for poor performance. Contains 12 references. (SV)

Finds that Holland's Self-Directed Search--Form E was a feasible method of vocational assessment for 25 rural, learning disabled, secondary students when individual assistance was provided on request. Presents scores on six occupational environments and corresponding personality types, and relationships to students' reading level and measured…

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)

Assesses the extent to which 30 third graders employ phonetically-based spelling strategies in representing synthetic words with high and mid front vowels. Finds spelling of good readers rule-governed and derived from judgement about language while that of poor readers showed less awareness of written language patterns. (LFL)

Outlines specific steps for implementing and validating a qualitative methodology designed to evaluate rural areas' special education programs serving students with severe special needs. Provides a rationale for use of the elements of aesthetic criticism as the basis of the methodology and discusses practical limitations and usefulness of the…

Argues that the most effective in-service programs for rural schools take place in the classroom with teachers and in-service tutors sharing the teaching, analysis, and evaluation. Describes such a program that helped rural Norfolk and Suffolk (England) elementary teachers gain skill and confidence in teaching science. (JHZ)

Examines the literature on public libraries and adult education from 1833-present. Proposes that the public library is indeed central to meeting adult education tasks in rural areas. Concludes that, in the absence of outside funding, the potential for adult education as a central function of the public library is limited. (Author/NEC)

Cites evidence showing traditional values are highly resistant to change regarding females in nontraditional skill/trade areas. Suggests a model for sex equity in vocational education in rural education systems, incorporating all components of rural education systems to interact in development of programs free from sex-role stereotyping. (NEC)

Reports a longitudinal study comparing the differential influence of stress on the interpersonal relationships of 101 representative rural and urban families. Notes that high stress rates adversely affected rural, but not urban, intrafamilial interaction, and affected young families more than older ones. Notes implications for mental health and…