The agri-industry curriculum for the Fort Benton school system was developed with funds under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as part of the vocational technology curricula to develop skills and attitudes that will permit students to find satisfaction and success in their careers. The curriculum consists of agri-industry…

In an effort to resolve the small school problems of limited math offerings, small classes, scheduling, and teacher overload, a secondary teacher from Quemado, New Mexico (a rural area) initiated use of five different programmed mathematics courses in one class period. Objectives were to: increase math offerings; decrease scheduling problems;…

Despite passionate local protests, an increasing number of small schools are either closing or are threatened with closure. Author suggests that any group of parents, teachers and others in a community who want to keep their local school going should be given a fair share of public funds in order to do so. (Editor/RK)

A program promoting international education in South Dakota's rural elementary schools has provided staff development opportunities and assistance in curriculum modification based on information about the status of international education in the schools and student knowledge of the world. The program succeeds where key teachers and administrators…

Only nine of 306 public, four-year colleges/universities reported teacher training course(s) devoted solely to study of rural/small schools. Most of the 87 including rural education as part of curriculum did so only as special topic of general course. Only 93 of 306 institutions reported faculty pursuing rural education interests. (NEC)

Suggests strategies for teaching English as a second language to non-English speaking students in small schools and warns of possible cultural differences which may lead to misunderstandings. (MH)

An experimental group of 15 grade six and 14 grade seven students in British Columbia were helped to improve their handwriting by analysis, observation, verbalization, and practice. (MH)

Describes a rural school system's successful efforts to help second- and third-grade students master basic facts in arithmetic by developing and using audiotaped material for addition and subtraction. Explains the development of the three-phase tapes. Notes the improvement of students' attitudes and the disappearance of finger counting. (SB)

The research project describes a Providence-based non-profit organization called the Big Picture Company (BP), and its efforts to replicate its small high school design in multiple communities throughout the United States (with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). It refers implicitly also to BP's ambition (and that of the Gates…

How to adequately fund small schools is becoming a pressing issue in Maine due to numerous factors, including state and federal accountability laws and declining enrollments. The following were among the challenges facing small rural schools: (a) attracting and retaining qualified teachers, (b) attracting and retaining qualified specialty teachers…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) A State of the States Roundup: State Governors Address High School Reform and College Preparation; and (2) "Big…

The author reviews eight school size studies performed by doctoral students and graduate faculty at the University of South Carolina. These studies examine the relationship of South Carolina school size to academic achievement and to costs per student at all grade span groupings, including elementary, middle, and high school. The studies are…

Some previous research has found that smaller schools perform at higher levels than larger schools and reduce the negative effects of poverty on school performance. This paper analyzes the effects of school size on four measures of school performance in elementary schools in Fayette County, Kentucky; elementary schools in Fayette and Jefferson…

A number of studies suggests that the small size of many rural schools gives their students, especially the poorest, a leg up on academic achievement. This notion is supported by the standardized test results presented in this report, from a sample of the primarily small schools participating in the Rural School and Community Trust, a national…

An Effective Rural Schools delivery model for small rural high schools was developed by teachers, parents, community members, and principals in a southwestern Alaska district. The model aimed to replace the typical "bush" high school model with effective resource management and delivery strategies that would work in small high schools.…