Perkins College Rural Education Summit Blog

The following are questions, comments and insights from both the on-site and the on-line summit participants.  We will be asking the appropriate presenter to post her/his responses to this blog.

• Book Larry Bradley recommended: Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic, and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap by Richard Rothstein
• What was the name of the book that Larry Bradley recommended related to the need for health and social services? What one book would each panelist recommend we read? Richard Rothschild’s case study, Daniel Pink – A Whole New Mind
• Larry Bradley: NCLB is not efficient but, what methods of accountability would you recommend? PS – Thank you for the info regarding re-authorization.
• University Research: What are some recent findings/discoveries in research on rural education that would or could change the way that state and federal policy makers think about rural ed. Policy?
• University Research: what kinds of research questions could scholars investigate if the amount of research funding was increased? And how much money would be needed?
• Could you address the need for resources which gives attention to early childhood education?
• Rachel Tompkins: One of the greatest problems facing our rural communities is they “export their youth.” What suggestions do you have for educators to create incentives for students to either remain or return to their rural community as adults?
• Dr. Tompkins: What are we doing to enhance the needs of the mentally challenged and emotionally fragile children in the schools? It seems that often these children are over-looked in rural schools and that we say, “We don’t have the resources to give them what they need.”
• Thirty years ago I taught as a county itinerant teacher in two small rural schools in Texas. Once concern that I had for the female students in these schools was their limited desire for higher education. I would say that about 95% of the girls wanted to grow up, get married, and have kids – and not always in that order. Do you see this mindset as a current problem in rural schools?
• Panel: Re: Retention: What does the research say are the major reasons for turnover and what is being done to decrease it? (Besides professional development as the panel mentioned?
• Panel: Many associations / organizations are represented here today – What efforts are being made to collaborate in order to provide better support (i.e. grant writing) to rural areas that need help?
• Seth Adams and Susan Luinstra: Right on about allowing independence and creativity in teachers! Dr. Tompkins reported that since 1983 our math and science literacy has flat-lined – what is the solution?
• Mary Kusler: The four day school week and post official health care in offices are innovative solutions – What are some other budget innovations that you see that are successful in reducing costs – It seems that costs are such an issue à What collaboration is taking place to address costs?
• Frank Cantu: How is illegal immigration or immigration issues in general impacting health services?
• Louie Gohmert: The National Forest funds should not be shared with those who are not impacted by the National Forest.  Please let U.S. Rep. Gohmert know that this needs to be changed.  Example Shelbyville ISD and Joaquin ISD in Shelby County share the funds with all the schools in our county and they are not impacted by the Forest. (This was an online question.)
• What do you consider to be some of the most timely policy opportunities – at the national level – that could have the greatest impact on rural schools?
• What differences exist between private and public education in rural communities? Is there research regarding this comparison?
• Is “academic success,” i.e. high school / college grad, the only indicator considered when looking at the success of rural students (or urban for that matter)? What about skilled workers / professions such as plumbers, opticians, public servants, electricians, etc…?
• The National Mathematics Advisory Panel Report that was released this month supports the hiring of mathematics specialists to teach math in the elementary schools. What are your thoughts on this idea with respect to rural schools?
• What recommendations do you have for rural universities in terms of bridging the very personal school community “at home” to the larger community of university life?
• What do you think of requiring a “rural impact statement” or assessment before implementing any new policies or procedures? In health? In education? In social services?
• What do you think of an office of Rural Human Services (Social Services) Policy?
• Is there any rural research funded by HHS – not just for health, but for human services? Which office funds that? What is being done related to human services in rural communities?
• As I see it, rural education is not understood by state or national government. What can be done about this?
• If rural schools go to a four day week to conserve gas – how will that impact the students who receive National School Breakfast and Lunch as their primary source of nutrition?
• Which Texas policies most positively and most negatively currently affect rural schools in Texas?
• What specific strategies are used to make connections between rural schools and universities?

Policy is often considered the road map that leads any organization.  If an organization voluntarily or is required to adopt policies that are not best suited or designed specifically for the organization this would be like trying to take a trip in the United States when all you have is a map of Mexico.  It has been said that many national and state level policies are designed for urban and suburban school districts because they have the most “clout” in the policy development process.

Which current national or state level policies are detrimental to rural school districts?

Which current national or state level policies are beneficial to rural school districts?

What type of policies should be adopted to benefit rural school districts?

It appears that there is a lot of support by professional organizations for research on education in general and more specifically in the area of urban education.  The areas of rural and even suburban education do not seem to garner near the support for such research.

What topics need to be supported by professional organizations for research in rural school districts?

How can rural school district educators support these research activities?

What might be some barriers to research in rural school districts?

Partnerships in any organization can lead to greater opportunites for individuals involved in these organizations.  Rural communities and schools often work within various cooperative efforts to supply services to the citizens of the community and students of the rural school district.

What are some examples of successful partnerships that are currently in place within rural school districts and communities?

What are some possible areas of partnerships that could benefit both the rural school districts and the higher education institution or other agency?

The trend nationally has been to combine smaller rural school districts together in order to form larger school districts.  The argument for such action has been to increase the efficiency of school districts and thus save taxpayers money.

Have the efforts to consolidate school districts actually lead to more efficiency?

Have new issues and/or cost factors been created through the consolidation of rural school districts?

Are there other options to improve school district efficiency besides making the district larger?

Are there any negative impact on students from the consolidation of smaller rural school districts into larger districts?

We hear a lot about the impact of single parent families, increase in special needs students, and imigration patterns on school districts.

What are some other changing demographics that are being seen in rural school districts?

How are changing demographics impacting rural school districts?

What special issues do rural school districts need to consider in order to meet the issues of such changing demographics?

It has been noted for many years that positive parent and community involvement in a school district will have a positive effect on student achievement.

What are some unique ways that parents and the community are involved in rural schools that may not be as common in other types of schools districts?

How have some rural school districts been successful in developing greater levels of parent and community support in their districts?

NCLB requires districts to place highly qualified teachers in every classroom.  It has always been the goal of school districts to hire quality teachers.

Are there distinct qualifications and qualities that are desired in teaching candidates for positions in rural and small schools that might be different from those in suburban or urban school districts?

What are some challenges towards recruiting highly qualified teachers to rural school districts?

What are some challenges for retaining highly qualified teachers to rural school districts?

One of the perceptions for rural schools and rural high schools in particular is that students in rural schools do not have access to a full, comprehensive curriculum compared to their counterparts in suburban and urban school districts.

Do you feel this is true and if so what are some of the deficient areas of curriculum in rural schools?

Are there programs such as virtual schools, two-way interactive courses or other programs that can meet the goal of a more comprehensive curriculum?

Are there programs that can meet the goal of a comprehensive curriculum in a cost effective manner?

It seems like when we discuss issues of education that the conversation always comes back to money.  When it comes to issues in rural school districts we hear that decreasing land values, declining enrollments, property tax limits, shortage of qualified teachers, increasing utility costs and many other factors are causing rural school districts to be short on funding to meet the educational needs of all students.

What are the important financial issues in your area, state or the nation that impact the quality of rural schools?

How might we solve these financial issues?

What sources  for new or increased revenue need to be considered in order to support rural school districts?