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)

Examines evidence on the effects of school and school district size in light of the educational reform movement and increasingly sophisticated telecommunications. Discusses an emerging technology of individualization that could alter conceptions of optimal school size. Focuses on New York studies. Contains 35 references. (SV)

Synthesizes first comprehensive national effort to derive empirical data base for establishing rural education research priorities. Reports rating of 46 research questions prioritized into 13 themes by 461 rural education researchers/practitioners. Presents rank ordered themes including rural school effectiveness, governance/finance, staff…

Examines sources of job satisfaction/dissatisfaction among 304 teachers from small, isolated, rural Alaska schools. Reveals satisfaction with student relationships and pay benefits and dissatisfaction with community amenities, students' academic progress, and school district management. Indicates interorganizational relationships with district…

Finds most successful students in University of Alaska-Fairbanks rural field-based teacher-education program over a three-year period show worst performance when conventional standards for course completion are applied. Reviews implications for innovation and change in higher education. (NEC)

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.…

Describes Brigham Young University's elementary rural teacher training program which has successfully provided rural student teaching experiences for over 250 prospective teachers since 1973. Details live-in experience, financial structure, reciprocal benefits, and school district-university cooperation in teacher preparation. (NEC)

A study of 150 rural teachers assessed the effect of teaching practices on elementary students' improvement in knowledge, attitudes, and behavior concerning good nutrition. Significant findings indicated that teachers using fewer traditional activities had students who performed better. Number of nontraditional activities used had no relationship…

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)

Of 105 different course offerings, 36 percent were provided at significantly higher frequencies in large high schools whereas only 2 percent were offered at significantly higher frequencies in small schools. Significant differences were noted in all foreign language and advanced placement courses surveyed and in almost one-half of…

Readiness skills measured effects of no treatment, home based programs, formal preschool programs, and a combination of the latter two on 90 incoming kindergarteners. Conclusions indicate cooperative home/school bonds are important for improving preschool readiness skills and home based programs can provide important developmental experiences in…

Examines educational expectations, aspirations, and anticipatory goal deflections of 73 high school sophomores and seniors with a variety of racial-ethnic backgrounds from 3 isolated rural Alaska schools. Reports significant differences between groups and schools; rural Alaskan Natives showed much lower expectations and aspirations than any other…

Describes the evolution of a phonics-basal elementary reading program in a rural New Mexico school district and the resulting improvement in reading. Notes the conditions in which changes initiated by the district and the Follow Through sponsor occurred. Explains monitoring and evaluation advances. (SB)

Reports a study in which parents of rural students with low CTBS scores were provided with free training to serve as classroom volunteers. Notes that most parents refused to serve as volunteers, did not complete training, and refused to believe their children needed remediation because of conflicting grade reports. (SB)