In this article, the author presents effective leaders of rural school districts who find assistance that overcomes the barriers of scarce human and financial resources for their students, faculty and community. One of them is Robert Falk, superintendent of the 768-student Otto-Eldred School District in Duke Center, Pennsylvania, who taps…

This article presents three rural schools with different leadership strategies and educational practices. Pseudonyms are used in place of the schools' real identities for confidentiality. Although rural schools do not seem to value best practice in ways that researchers and policymakers might recognize, neither do they set out to repudiate the…

An Alaska school district administrator explains the reasons for maintaining a public relations program and outlines important areas to consider in communicating with schools in remote villages. (MD)

Three rural district superintendents were asked to share their thoughts about managing rural school systems. Generally, rural superintendents must have wide-ranging educational interests, stay informed of current research, be actively involved in curriculum development, stretch scarce resources, and deal effectively with diverse personalities and…

In New Mexico, 18 out of 89 school districts are on the four-day school week. So are many rural Colorado, Oregon, and Colorado schools. Implemented as a fiscal last resort, this schedule has had unexpected educational benefits for districts. Attendance has improved and student achievement on standardized tests remains stable. (MLH)

Discusses debate surrounding the advantages and disadvantages of various grade-span configurations. Offers several provocative "hunches" concerning the implications of grade-span-configuration research for practice. Includes list of additional resources on grade-span configurations. (PKP)

Despite their isolation and limited tax support, U.S. rural schools are finding collaboration with colleges and universities a cost-effective way to stimulate improvement. Large-scale partnerships often derive from tentative discussions between a few school and college faculty members. One sterling example is Dos Palos High School and California…

Discusses growth of online staff and professional development courses and some of the issues and concerns related thereto. Also discusses several of the advantages for school districts, teachers, and administrators. (PKP)

The benefits of distance education have made converts out of many rural school administrators. Through communication satellites, schools can gain access to the most advanced courses for students and staff while maintaining their rural characteristics and personal touch. Sidebars present a glossary and one rural New York school's experience with…

Concerned about low reading achievement scores, the superintendent of an impoverished, rural Tennessee school district adopted Marie Carbo's reading styles program as a vehicle for a five-year learning improvement plan. The district aimed to improve classroom instruction through long-term staff development that inspired teachers to abandon…

Rural school districts across the country have seen a serious loss of employment opportunities for families in their communities. Even when jobs exist, they are often low-level service jobs that do not provide wages that encourage young people to grow roots. When good jobs are available, often those jobs are outsourced to other low-wage areas,…

Merger battles in rural communities often have more to do with sports, school colors, traditional rivalries, and socioeconomic differences than student transportation difficulties. Cooperation most commonly exists in special education, vocational education, and purchasing. Stretching resources among districts can boost interscholastic athletics…

Professional educators may be behind the times in their thinking about school size. Many educational leaders mistakenly believe that large schools provide better learning environments at less cost than smaller schools. Actually, there are few conclusive before-and-after consolidation studies, consolidation does not seem to save money, and small…

A national study of rural superintendents identified several fiscal practices to maximize resources, including seeking bids and comparison pricing for purchases, paying bills promptly where discounts are available, employing aggressive energy conservation measures, joining a regional service agency to provide services and programs, and increasing…

Because school violence is not confined to cities, even rural administrators and board members have become legally responsible for addressing the issue. To prevent lawsuits and ensure school safety, districts must have an official policy, knowledge about potentially disruptive students, law enforcement liaisons, and inservice education for…