Rural youth are now graduating from high school at rates comparable to their peers in urban and suburban schools, however far fewer rural youth pursue postsecondary education. Using a comparative case study method, we explore postsecondary preparation efforts at three rural school districts. Each case represents a different classification of…

This volume presents the 2010 Yearbook of the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA). This year's theme is "Promoting Critical Ideas of Leadership, Culture and Diversity." This yearbook contains five parts. Part 1, Invited Chapters, includes the following: (1) President's Message: Critical Issues in…

Examines the informal administrative career path leading from the rural school district to "big league" urban and suburban areas. Reviews research emphasizing the importance of the superintendent in effective rural districts. Suggests a subsidized preparation program specifically for rural administrator candidates, involving an intensive…

Professional development policy of a small, rural education system in New South Wales (Australia) allows control of staff development at system, school, and individual levels; and identifies a rationale and aim, assumptions, principles of procedure, and characteristics of a healthy professional learning environment. These features guide…

Traditional administrator training programs are irrelevant to and grossly inadequate for the work responsibilities found in the school principalship. Preparation programs for the rural principalship should include a partnership between university and school district, an exacting selection process, internship field experience, and individualized…

The major purpose of the Teacher Center is to improve the quality of pre-service experiences of education majors, especially of student teachers. Problems associated with supervision, staff development, and placement of student teachers can be greatly reduced through the sort of Teacher Center activities described. (Author/CM)

Discussion of the National Research and Education Network (NREN) highlights distance education programs that have been developed at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Topics discussed include nontraditional students; an evolving view of knowledge and learning; new communications technologies; computer communications at RIT; hearing-impaired…

Educational administration faculty from five public higher education institutions in New Mexico formed a consortium to address the need for effective educational leaders in rural school districts. Members established the New Mexico Partners for Educational Leadership (PEL), composed of faculty from the five universities, leading educational…

A project of Cameron University increases the availability of psychological services to rural schools in southwestern Oklahoma. Rural districts identified needs for professionals to conduct psychological evaluations, develop and help in the implementation of behavioral intervention plans, and consult with teachers regarding plan implementation and…

The Northern Tier Distance Learning Consortium links six high schools and three colleges in northeastern Pennsylvania. Indiana students participated in an interactive distance-learning program that focused on underwater exploration. (MLF)

Small schools may resist educational reform because they view the implementation of change as too costly and time consuming. Formation of a consortium of small schools allows the pooling of staff and resources, thereby increasing capabilities while maintaining the positive attributes of small schools. In rural northeastern Oregon, eight small…

This paper traces the role of the classroom teacher in the development of educational research and presents a study surveying funded research conducted by classroom teachers in a number of rural Arkansas school districts. Historically, there has been a lack of reporting of research studies attributed to classroom teachers. Action research is a…

Six rural Pennsylvania school districts and three colleges have installed standardized distance-learning classrooms and are now collaborating seamlessly as information providers and receivers. Misericordia College offers an advanced-placement college-level credit program and professional development seminars for teachers in the participating…

The Northeastern Utah Telelearning Project was created in 1985 to remedy problems of meeting core curriculum requirements and providing educational equity in rural schools, and to provide cost effective educational delivery systems to school districts. It was determined that a distance educational computer network using audiographic…

Because extremely small rural districts in Oklahoma have limited resources and are not able to hire additional specialists, and because parents want education in local inclusive settings, most special education teachers in these districts serve students with disabilities for which they are not certified. A survey of school districts in Oklahoma…