The purpose of this article is to help education practitioners and researchers understand that research about rural education is complicated not only by issues of defining "rural," but also by the often dramatic ways that rural schools differ from each other. We briefly address issues in defining rural and describe rural classification…

Reports results of a survey of Idaho programs of cooperation between schools or districts. Reveals 75 percent of responding schools participate in one or more cooperative efforts and report sharing to be a successful practice. Describes major advantage of curriculum variety, but disadvantages of problems with coordination, transportation, and…

Outlines concerns that cause beginning teachers to leave rural schools. Discusses components of an overall teacher recruitment strategy, benefits of living and teaching in rural areas, and possible teacher incentives. Lists teacher retention strategies based on community or social environment, staff development, support procedures, or incentives.…

High levels of parent involvement in their children's education result in higher student achievement; higher attendance levels; a decline in dropout rates; fewer disciplinary problems; and better student motivation, self-esteem, and behavior. Since unacknowledged parents withdraw from the school, schools should acknowledge parent participation. To…

This pamphlet provides information for teachers contemplating employment in Yukon Territory, Canada. A preface briefly describes the political history and government of the Yukon, and emphasizes the frontier nature of the region. In both English and French, the paper discusses the curriculum, school terms and vacations, the Yukon Teachers'…

Discusses how rural groups might approach corporations to forge partnerships for a variety of educational and community programs and activities. Makes specific suggestions for selecting corporations, writing the first requests for information, evaluating responses, and following up leads. Includes a section on the workings of Apple Computer's…

Small, sometimes multi-cultural, rural schools need specialized preservice teacher education programs to prepare teachers. After outlining the classroom, school, and sociocultural characteristics affecting a teacher's success and survival in a rural community, this paper discusses the apparent lack of rural content in teacher preparation programs…

Describes survey of services for gifted and disabled military dependents attending schools located on military installations which do not receive monies for special education under P.L. 94-142. Finds schools provide services comparable to those of public schools and serve comparable numbers of students, but show uneven distribution between…

Develops a proposed model for the establishment of rural teacher centers which calls for and defines teacher educator involvement, establishes interdependence between rural school districts, and depends on local teachers for direction. (Author)

Because schools are often the biggest employers in rural areas, it may make sense for rural schools to initiate economic development partnerships with the community, rather than wait for business to take the initiative, as is more commonly the case with urban school-business partnerships. This booklet reports findings of a national research…

The four conceptual/academic themes for the Second Annual University of Kentucky Conference on Appalachia were: School-Community Relationships; Economic Development through Education; Politics of Democratic Empowerment; and Politics of Literacy. Other session topics included: Successful Dropout Programs in Appalachia; Innovative Programs and…

The curricular and extracurricular responsibilities of teaching in a small school district require uniquely prepared teachers. Rural teachers often need additional background in instructional methods for teaching reading, content areas other than their specialty, discipline techniques, use of community resources, and individualized diagnosis and…

Recruitment and retention of special education teachers and related services staff have been persistent problems of rural school districts nationwide. High teacher attrition rates have serious ramifications for personnel development and program stability. Effective recruitment strategies for rural areas have four main components: (1) emphasis on…

Questionnaires were mailed to 80 administrative units in the western United States, of which 85% responded, to examine administrative arrangements for administering special education programs in rural areas and to determine whether a relationship existed between administrative arrangement, cooperative size, and compliance with the mandates of P.L.…

The document provides educators with data and information regarding the utilization of alternative educational processes in Latin American rural communities. Many communities exist at social and economic poverty levels and are isolated from urban centers. Documents compiled for use at alternative education conferences, held in Paipa, Colombia in…