National data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 1981 (11,754 adults) and regional augmentation data collected in 1984 (812 adults) were analyzed to provide--in profile form--baseline information to assist practitioners and policy makers in having a better understanding of the educational needs of rural adult…

Compiled for rural educators, this catalog describes 58 exemplary educational programs available for adoption by any school through the National Diffusion Network (NDN), but selected with the needs and resources of rural schools in mind. Introductory sections explain the function of NDN and the role of NDN facilitators in assisting those seeking…

Sage Institute of Canada, Inc. measured the priorities for improving education that are held by professional staff, the boards, and the public in the Alberta counties of Newell, Vulcan, and Warner. Over 1,800 people participated in identifying issues, conditions, and suggestions for improvement. They then assisted in validating the information and…

To meet the need for improved science instruction in rural schools, a project to identify, honor, and provide training for outstanding rural science teachers in grades 6-9 was designed cooperatively by the National Science Foundation, Kansas State University, Kansas Cosmosphere and Discovery Center, and rural school districts. In order to create a…

From 1910 to 1935 a campaign was waged in the southern United States to eradicate adult illiteracy. This program was primarily based on volunteers, and it revolved around night, summer, or cotton mill schools that were often termed Opportunity Schools. Many parallels can be drawn to current efforts to address the problem of functional illiteracy…

This study was conducted to develop, implement, prototype test, and disseminate a model guidance training program that can be used to prevent the high rate of student dropouts in rural Texas schools. Two school districts, New Caney and Waller, served as demonstration sites for prototype testing. The program was designed by a team of…

From its inception in 1967 to the end of fiscal 1981, Portable Practical Educational Preparation, Inc. (PPEP), grew from a 1-bus school on wheels to Arizona's largest multifunded non-profit service agency. The self-help organization serving Arizona's rural and migrant poor grew through three phases. During the 1967-1969 contact phase, PPEP staff…

To determine perceptions of school board members, teachers, and principals in rural schools about the quality of their educational programs, the type of preparation they had received in preservice programs, and the inservice opportunities available to them, responses to questionnaires from 2,028 teachers, 119 principals, and 113 school board…

Rural school districts in five Arkansas towns set up school-based development corporations (SBDCs) to provide vocational and career training relevant to the needs of rural high school students and the community and to improve the economic and social welfare of the community as a whole. Each SBDC owned and operated businesses using student labor…

A review of studies conducted from 1973-1984 shows continuing inequalities between rural Appalachian and non-Appalachian school districts in Kentucky, particularly in the areas of expenditures, sources of revenue, and holding power. The gap between Appalachian and non-Appalachian school systems in per pupil expenditures and the percentage of…

Lewis-Clark State College, a small college in Lewiston, Idaho, establishes close cooperation with rural schools through specialized teacher preparation, community outreach, and willingness to bring educational ideas and expertise to rural areas. The teacher preparation program stresses development of professional versatility through composite…

This case study considers why community members of two rural New York School districts reacted so strongly against a referendum for school district reorganization in February 1983. State and local school officials introduced into this reorganization effort a unique plan designed to achieve community support for the merger. Rather than have the…

Written for educators, legislators, and the general public, this monograph is a resource for better understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the one-teacher school. The material is designed to inspire more confidence in the quality of education possible in rural America and to reinforce recognition that most schools--regardless of size--can…

Perceived negative aspects of teaching in rural areas, including personal and professional isolation, multiple subject preparation, etc., provide barriers to effective recruitment and retention of quality teachers. The predicted shortage of teachers will likely have a significant impact on an already competitive market for high quality, rural…

The annotated bibliography provides a guide to the latest resource material, research findings, and/or developments in rural career guidance found in the ERIC system. Section I contains 158 citations and abstracts which have appeared in "Resources in Education" (RIE). RIE document resumes include the ERIC accession number, author(s), title,…