Study examines implications for rural special education cooperatives of federal law mandating education for handicapped children. Compliance was assessed in 135 cooperatives in Regions 4 and 5. Mandated parental rights, student assessments, and individual plans posed least difficulty. Lack of special education knowledge posed most difficulty.…

Presents evaluation studies examining use of Direct Instruction (DI) Model on rural South Carolina students. Compares results of DI and conventional methods in reading, mathematics, language, and spelling. Results show DI students outperformed local comparison students on virtually every measure. (TES)

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)

A questionnaire was distributed to 456 post-secondary institutions offering preservice teacher preparation programs in 27 rural states. Of the 208 institutions responding, 21 offered specialized programs for teachers planning to work in rural areas. Of the suggested 26 preservice curriculum components, 14 were offered in over half the institutions…

Describes four external and internal barriers regarding computer literacy that are limiting rural women: institutionalized sexism, females' negative self-concepts concerning computer technology, lack of knowledge about the technology, and rural women's sex-stereotyped attitudes about computer-related careers. Outlines actions rural schools can…

Surveys 383 rural/urban/suburban school psychologists to evaluate influence of child's background, school setting, and psychologist's work setting on educational expectations for hypothetical case study child. Finds expectations not influenced by student's background or school setting. However, rural psychologists have higher academic/vocational…

Reviews the literature of teacher preparation and inservice for rural areas, noting the dilemmas facing rural educators (multiple preparations, extracurricular duties, isolation, community problems), what colleges and universities can do (rural visibility, off-campus centers, curriculum expertise), and implications for colleges and universities…

Presents strategies developed for a National Science Foundation grant to improve rural science education by helping rural teachers design an action plan for instructional improvement based on their ideals and goals coupled with a realistic assessment of their teaching situation including the strengths and weaknesses of the rural setting. (JHZ)

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)

Studies the dissemination methods and clientele of agricultural extension in rural Virginia. Sample was 300 beef farmers. Identifies typical farmer characteristics. Farmers rate farm visits as beneficial, whereas they rated computer messages and cartoons low. Suggests favored extension methods change with clientele's education levels. Includes…

In a survey of 304 teachers selected randomly from Alaska's rural schools, significantly fewer teachers in Native communities thought students would attend or graduate from college or could achieve at or above national norms. Many Native leaders view these attitudes as evidence that prejudiced attitudes create school failure among Native children.…

Describes adult educational program by University College Galway in rural West Ireland, following significant out-migration of young people. Aim is to encourage development initiatives, community participation, and self help. Program includes lectures, seminars, and class projects. Program's successes noted. (Author/TES)