Democratic trends paint a seemingly bleak picture for small schools. Declining school enrollments and school closures have led to an unprecedented trend towards school closures and amalgamation of schools across Canada. Since student enrollment is the most common basis for funding formulas in Canada, small schools typically receive a smaller…

The Small Schools Curriculum Project in Newfoundland aims to develop curricular and pedagogical solutions to the problems identified with multigrade classrooms. Concludes that multigrade classrooms are (1) a prevalent and permanent feature of education in Newfoundland; (2) a unique form of educational organization; and (3) potentially feasible…

Discusses the educational needs, problems and trends that are unique to those areas defined as rural. Attempts to solve rural problems with community education, regionalization, and revitalizing small schools. (Author/RK)

Suggests that correspondence education can be used to benefit students in regular schools by enriching curriculum, accelerating gifted pupils, making up work that has been failed or missed, resolving schedule conflicts, introducing adult education, individualizing learning programs, and providing adult evening programs. Outlines responsibilities…

Survey responses from 68 Ontario principals who administered 141 "twinned" schools indicate that schools were twinned mainly to save money and offer full and better educational programs, yet not much money had been saved nor had educational programs been expanded or improved. From the principals' perspective, the main benefits of…

Finds that, among 418 students in 8 New Brunswick (Canada) elementary schools, students in multigrade classes and matched peers in single grades 1-5 did not differ significantly in grade points or total achievement test scores. Reports that 27 of 34 teachers surveyed preferred teaching single grade classes. (SV)

Argues that the small school is intrinsically neither good or bad but just unique as an educational setting. Discusses declining enrollment, growing societal concern about the products of public school education, and distance learning technology as forces shaping the future of small schools. (SV)

There are several alternatives to closing a small elementary school. The choice among them will be influenced by the beliefs of policy makers and by a number of situational factors. Analysis of these factors is likely to lead to a more defensible and a less arbitrary choice. (Author/SJL)

Twinning, or clustering, is the sharing of resources to promote school improvement. A preferred alternative to school consolidation, twinning makes small schools economically viable. Describes the range of cooperative ventures, ways that schools can collaborate, and the advantages and disadvantages of clustering. Presents a list of principles…

Points out eight factors consistently associated with effective schools (academic focus, student participation in decision-making, etc.) and eight common problems with effective schools projects (short-term focus, unrealistic expectations, etc.). Summarizes successful projects at a K-12 village school and an urban junior high school. (JHZ)

A rural British Columbia K-12 school facing closure due to declining population implemented intentional learning, student-directed learning, and learning groups as core units for developing communities of learners. A computer-managed learning system and online scheduling enables delivery of a full range of courses despite decreases in teaching…

A rural Saskatchewan K-12 school developed a schoolwide sense of community and a solid relationship with the larger community by setting new directions, team building, and building bridges with parents and the community. Positive staff behaviors, school appearance, and cross-grade interactive projects were critical to the success of the plan. (TD)

A principal of three Ontario "twinned" schools (sharing principal and services) discusses the arrangement's advantages: greater sharing of both human and technical resources and increased opportunities for broader budget negotiations between schools. The disadvantages of twinning relate to the additional stress placed on the principal…

Examines the special characteristics of small rural schools and stresses the importance of programs preparing teachers to teach in rural areas. Describes a program at Bishop University that provides preservice and inservice education for rural educators in Quebec. Includes additional suggestions for meeting the professional development needs of…

Twinning (or clustering) is the joining together of two or more (usually small) schools administered by one principal, in order to share resources and services. A survey of 104 of the 170 Ontario school boards examined prevalence of twinned schools, organization and administration of twinned schools, types of resources shared, and advantages and…