This article discusses the creation of a teacher as researcher learning environment in one small rural Idaho elementary school through the Internet. At the request of five elementary school teachers from the same rural school district, the researcher, a university professor, created an online course, "Teacher as Researcher," which provided…

This presentation explains the unique needs of teachers working in rural settings and describes Project CREST (Collaboration for Rural Education Special Teachers). The model teacher training program, currently in operation in Ohio, is funded by a federal grant awarded to Bowling Green State University. The primary components of Project CREST…

The Appalachian Staff Development Consortium, comprised of three community colleges and the state college located in Appalachian Maryland, attempts to integrate staff development activities into the operational framework of the sponsoring agencies. The consortium, which is managed by a steering committee composed of one teaching faculty member and…

Very little empirical research has examined mathematics education in rural schools and communities. A modest non-research literature, however, does exist, and this study analyzed it and found three themes describing the prescriptions given to rural mathematics educators: (1) mathematics education in rural schools needs to be fixed; (2) good things…

A school-college partnership in central Virginia is attempting to meet the complex challenges presented by diversity, standards, and accountability by offering inservice and preservice teachers unique, reform-based professional development opportunities for building expertise in mentoring and differentiating curriculum and instruction. The first…

The purpose of this forum was the assessment of how well current research is meeting the needs of rural educators. Individual papers presented at the forum are "Learning To Find the 'Niches': Rural Education and Vitalizing Rural Communities" by Daryl Hobbs with commentary by Richard Tulikangas; "Effective Rural Schools: Where Are We? Where Are We…

This paper reviews staff development research related to rural schools. Only a limited number of studies have described, or evaluated the effects of, particular staff development programs in rural schools, or have assessed the perceived needs of rural faculty and administrators for inservice training. However, rural educators can draw implications…

Emerging Literacy Technology Curriculum (ELiTeC 2, [referred to as E2 in this report]), housed at the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood at Western Illinois University, was funded in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) as a 3-year Phase 3 Steppingstones of Technology Research on…

The use of positive behavior supports (PBS) based on functional behavioral assessment (FBA) has produced dramatic improvements in problem behaviors of challenging students. This approach is a long-term strategy to reduce inappropriate behavior, teach more appropriate behavior, and provide contextual supports necessary for successful outcomes. Yet…

Elk City, Idaho, instituted an arts program in its small K-10 school with grant and community funding. An arts facilitator organized a visiting-artists program and trained teachers to recognize different learning styles and integrate art, literature, and music into the curriculum. Self-esteem and test scores have risen, and the community is…

Presents an interview with Kati Haycock, Director of the Education Trust, discussing: challenges to developing high quality staff development in schools serving low-income, minority students; teacher turnover; rural poverty; content-oriented staff development; learning from colleagues; making time for staff learning; willingness to change and…

From a case study looking at continuing professional development (CPD) within a rural primary school cluster, teachers' views of the way their needs were met, what controlled their CPD, and the impact of school and system needs on their CPD experiences were analysed. This confirmed the existence of tensions between these levels of need in relation…

A year-long study investigated the perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs of rural educators concerning gifted learners and their educational needs. Participants were all K-12 teachers (43) and administrators (3) in a single, rural southeastern Kansas school district serving 518 students. During the study, conducted in school year 1985, teachers…

Alternative models of rural school improvement consortia were identified through a review of research literature in order to determine what existing models were applicable to rural school consortia in the northwest United States. Organization structure of rural school collaboratives and characteristics associated with successful functioning were…

Describes a university project to increase academic learning time in two rural Nebraska school districts. Outlines the use of teacher triad observation teams to increase teachers' awareness of time use in their classrooms and to provide teachers with objective information on which to base instructional process decisions. (SV)