Home schooling is one of the fastest growing educational options in the United States. In 1995, the National Home Education Research Institute reported the number of home-schooled children to be approximately 500,000 students, one percent of the total school-age population. Parents choose home schooling for various reasons including differences in…

This paper discusses differences between the Hmong culture and American culture and resulting implications for provision of special education services. The Hmong population in the Fresno County (California) area has consistently grown since 1977, reaching approximately 26,500 in 1990. The major reason that Hmong refugees settled in agricultural…

By legislative edict, Eastern Oregon State College serves Oregon's 10 eastern counties, an area of over 42,000 square miles with fewer than four people per square mile. This service area is typical of much of the western United States. The economies of such rural areas are becoming more diversified, but will be unable to realize their potential…

Education of disadvantaged children in rural Leflore County, Mississippi, is evaluated and discussed in this 1969 document by sections: (1) educational needs of Negro children, where recommendations are given for an active vocational counseling and guidance program plus improved inservice education for teachers; (2) educational needs of Negro…

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…

Only nine of 306 public, four-year colleges/universities reported teacher training course(s) devoted solely to study of rural/small schools. Most of the 87 including rural education as part of curriculum did so only as special topic of general course. Only 93 of 306 institutions reported faculty pursuing rural education interests. (NEC)

Homeschooling enjoys increasing recognition as a respectable alternative to public and private school education. State homeschooling populations are doubling every 3 years. With personal computers and the Internet, homeschooling families have access to a wealth of educational materials at all grade levels and for many populations. Homeschooling…

This report evaluates U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) efforts to improve basic education for girls. The evaluation drew on field studies in: Guatemala, Guinea, Malawi, Nepal, and Pakistan; a country desk study of Egypt; issue-oriented research on Bolivia and Thailand; and a literature review. Findings indicate that effective…

The author argues against specialized education programs for rural children in developing nations, asserting that these children's education should not essentially differ from that considered suitable for urban children. For a contrasting opinion, see the article by David R. Evans (pp232-43). (See AA 533 194.) (SJL)

Reacting to the preceding article (pp216-21) by Elinor G. Barber, the author argues against a single formal system of general education for both rural and urban areas of developing nations. (See AA 533 193.) (SJL)

School at the Center, a U.S. place-based educational initiative, was successfully trialed in North Queensland (Australia). For place-based education to take root in Australia, place-based educational strategies must be taught in preservice teacher education programs. However, to be seriously considered by teacher education programs, place-based…

Rural training tracks (RTT) encourage family medicine residents to enter into rural practice. Studies reveal that 76 percent of RTT graduates are practicing in rural America and that graduates feel prepared for rural practice. However, RTTs produced only 107 graduates during 1989-99. Without significant investment, this model can not supply enough…

Outlines the policy framework for vocational education and training (VET) in New South Wales (Australia), provision of VET through distance education to isolated learners and students in small rural schools, issues related to the child-to-adult transition of isolated students, and the varying educational needs of students following five different…

Examines the persistence of academic exam-oriented curricula and teaching styles of colonial origin in Lesotho and Zimbabwe despite differences in colonial history and current ideological and economic systems. Discusses the lack of reform policy implementation, ruling class interests, popular pressures and conservative educational attitudes, and…

In 1995, the International Consultative Forum on Education for All commissioned case studies in developing countries as part of a mid-decade review of progress in expanding access to basic education. This paper examines the situation in Somalia, where civil war has completely destroyed the infrastructure of education. Part 1 summarizes Somalia's…