Young people aspire, make choices, and develop within a particular place and historical context. Recently, federal and state governments, policy and research institutes, and advocacy organizations have shown a growing interest in the aspirations and transitions of rural youth--and, in particular, the role that schools play in shaping and…

The crisis of rural life in Russia involves a declining and aging population, emigration of rural young people to urban areas, lack of employment, and farms in urgent need of modernization. Programs in rural schools can be used more deliberately to encourage young people to remain in the village and to equip them to be agents of rural…

Imagine a K-8 school in a remote corner of southern Appalachia with a student body that once qualified for 100 percent coverage of free and reduced school meals. Imagine a school budget far below the state and national averages and a well-worn building that has been in use for a half-century. This is the reality of Grassy Fork School in Cocke…

Nanakuli is a rural, poverty-stricken community on the remote west coast of the Hawaiian island of O'ahu. In May 2006, Nanakuli High and Intermediate was ranked the worst school in the state of Hawaii. In this article, the author relates what happened when she led teens in Nanakuli through the creation and performance of an original theatre show…

Based on case studies centered on two rural secondary schools in Lesotho and Zimbabwe, this article examines the gendered impacts of schooling on young people's transitions to adulthood. School attendance is shown first to disrupt the conventional pathways to adulthood: Young people attending school may leave home sooner than they otherwise would…

Describes the development, implementation, and initial evaluation of a program that aims to foster an expanded understanding of career options for women. This program, developed specifically for use in rural areas, was designed for adolescents of both sexes and is currently used in several regions of the United States. (Author/MLF)

Appalachian State University of North Carolina, which draws mostly from nearby rural areas, has opened the Appalachian House in Washington, DC as a temporary residence and research center for faculty and students. The urban location of the house provides students with experiential learning opportunities not previously available. (JMD)

This paper describes the training of a high school assistance team designed to guide younger students. The program, which was directed at students in grades 7 and 8, lasted for 1 year and involved students in community service and challenge activities. The setting was a small rural school in Vermont, with nearly 400 students in grades 7-12.…

In response to a recognition of the differing needs and educational goals of non-college-bound and college-bound rural high school students, this guide presents the English curriculum for non-college-bound students (called "general English") adopted at Arenac Eastern High School (Michigan). Chapter 1 explains the background and purpose of the…

Reviews a systems theory approach to the development of community-based suicide prevention programs. Describes the Lifelines model of youth suicide prevention, and discusses the feasibility of implementing this model in rural and isolated areas. Contains 19 references and an outline of procedures for crisis intervention and aftercare. (SV)

Based on the career guidance needs of rural youth and the problems of rural educational institutions in meeting these needs, a systematic approach for delivering a comprehensive career guidance system to students in rural and small schools was researched and developed by consortium effort. The objectives were accomplished by completing the…

Project Aspire was created to identify poor rural students with academic potential and to provide them with academic and counseling support in advanced placement courses and prerequisites. This article describes Project Aspire and its foundations; the relevant lessons learned from the literature on poverty, small schools, rural schools, and gifted…

Addresses factors affecting rural education in Tasmania (Australia), including population trends, financial support, student enrollment, socioeconomic status of rural residents, and geographic isolation. Issues that need to be addressed include the status of small schools in Tasmania, costs associated with transporting students, staffing, low…

A graduate course at Chadron State College, "Community/School Revitalization" is a year-long project that involves the local schools and the town's youth in community development while enhancing the students' learning experiences. Involving young people in local programs enables them to appreciate the quality of life in their communities…

REAL Enterprises, Inc. (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning) is an academic program that helps students learn the basics of starting and nurturing a new business. West Virginia is 1 of 17 states offering the program with the goal of preparing youth to take advantage of economic opportunities in their own communities. (LP)