Rural Policy Matters: May 2008

The May 2008 Rural Policy Matters included the feature articles "Working to Keep Kids in School," which described how one rural county in North Carolina is addressing the alarming rate of student suspensions; "Nebraska Shifts Funding From Rural to Urban Districts;" and "High-Poverty Rural Districts in Kentucky Lose Share of Title I Funding."

Rural Policy Matters: April 2008

The April 2008 Rural Policy Matters included articles on the Rural Trust's Rural School Innovation Network, a new project of the Rural Trust that brings together rural schools and districts in a mutual partnership to improve rural education; "Kansas Debates Cutting Funds for High-Poverty Rural Districts;" "Eastern Kentucky University Establishes Education Doctorate with Rural Focus;" and "West Virginia Limits Elementary Bus Rides."

Rural School and Community Trust 2007 Annual Report

The Rural School and Community Trust's 2007 Annual Report provides a summary of the organization's programs, achievements, and goals.

Rural Policy Matters: March 2008

The March 2008 Rural Policy Matters included a feature article on Linda Martin, who retired from Challenge West Virginia after years of "Building Capacity in Community." Also, "School Levies Face Challenges" discusses questions about the role of local voters in school budgets in light of the Fall 2008 school levy votes, and "Maine Group Continues to Collect Signatures" reports on the Maine Coalition to Save Schools' plan to continue collecting signatures to repeal a 2007 law mandating the consolidation of most of the state's school districts.

Rural Policy Matters: February 2008

In the February 2008 Rural Policy Matters, Rural Trust President Rachel Tompkins writes about the complexity of rural education in "Rural Schools: Growing, Diverse, and... Complicated." This piece first appeared as a "back page" editorial in the national publication, Education Week, on January 16, 2008. Also, a critical analysis of nationally significant school funding issues in Georgia is the focus of "School Funding in Turmoil in Georgia," where radical proposals in the legislature could cripple school funding and citizen participation in education policymaking.

Rural Policy Matters: January 2008

The January 2008 Rural Policy Matters included the feature articles "Students of Color Comprise Majority in High Poverty Rural Districts;" "Building Community Connections for the Success of All Children," which looks at the efforts of hundreds of community residents in five rural eastern North Carolina counties that are working together to plan and implement their ideas in their communities; and "Fewer Students Leave Small Alabama High Schools Before Graduation."

Why Rural Matters 2007: Gauge and Indicator Results

Gauge and Indicator Results from Why Rural Matters 2007, including six focus areas: Importance, Socioeconomic Challenges, Student Diversity, Policy Context, Outcomes, and Rural Education Priority.

Why Rural Matters 2007: Major Findings

Major findings from Why Rural Matters 2007: The Realities of Rural Education Growth.

Why Rural Matters 2007: Press Room

Media links and information for Why Rural Matters 2007: The Realities of Rural Education Growth.

Why Rural Matters 2007: Print Edition

Why Rural Matters 2007: The Realities of Rural Education Growth is a snapshot of rural education that provides essential information on the condition of rural education in the 50 states and uncovers new trends and challenges facing rural educators.

Quality Teachers: Issues, Challenges, and Solutions for North Carolina's Most Overlooked Rural Communities

"Quality Teachers: Issues, Challenges, and Solutions for North Carolina's Most Overlooked Rural Communities describes the challenges facing low-wealth rural school districts in eastern North Carolina as they relate to issues of teacher quality and summarizes the rural-specific strategies going on around the country to respond to these challenges. The report also covers how North Carolina is doing in each strategy, and provides additional recommendations based on the specific circumstances in North Carolina that would help address the pressing issue of providing all children in North Carolina the teachers they deserve. "

Title I Weighted Grants Skewed Toward Largest Districts: Per Pupil Funding Varies Sharply by District Size

Since 2002, some of the federal funds provided to local school districts under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act have been distributed through weighted grant formulas intended to better target funding to districts with the highest concentrations of poverty. While a worthy goal, these formulas actually skew funds toward larger districts and place a greater value on the education of a Title I student in a large district than on the education of a Title I student in a smaller district — even when these districts have the same poverty rate.

Riding to School in Slow Motion

Students who attend consolidated rural high schools face longer bus rides and are less likely to participate in extra-curricular activities because of the challenge of transportation. This is one finding in Slow Motion: Traveling by School Bus in Consolidated Districts in West Virginia. Survey results show that high school students who ride the bus and attend consolidated high schools lose an average of 49 minutes each day, compared to students who have other forms of transportation in those same districts. Though the report focuses specifically on consolidation outcomes in West Virginia, the lessons learned are a warning to any state that has pursued or is considering pursuing consolidation as an education policy.

Rural Policy Matters: December 2006

The December 2006 Rural Policy Matters included the feature articles "Bias Against Small Districts in Title I Formula is 'Systematic,'” which explored the impact of Title I formulas across Texas districts; "Rural Advocate Uncovers Privatization Ploy," a report on a South Carolina tuition tax credit proposal that would for private school vouchers; and "The Rural Trust on NCLB--Thoughts About Trying to Improve a Flawed Law," a Rural Trust a position paper outlining recommendations for the reauthorization of NCLB.

The Hobbit Effect: Why Small Works in Public Schools

While numerous studies have documented that small schools effectively boost student achievement, especially among at-risk students, our report, The Hobbit Effect: Why Small Works in Public Schools summarizes the vast research literature that explains just why small works in schooling, identifying ten research-based attributes of small schools that are proven to have a positive impact on kids and their learning.