Evaluations of rural and small schools done by stakeholders provide a broader base of involvement than those done internally by persons with a vested interest or potential conflict of interest. Presents tasks for initiating a stakeholders' evaluation, groups considered to be stakeholders, evaluation standards, and elements to include in a school…

Describes the National Science Foundation's Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative (ARSI) to improve student performance in mathematics, science, and technology in 66 Appalachian counties. Discusses ARSI's principles of systemic change; the individual school as the unit of change; and ARSI activities in four areas: catalyst school and teacher…