An historical overview of the Texas Small Schools Project (TSSP) from 1960 to 1969 precedes a discussion of statewide, regional, and school activities conducted with TSSP assistance: summer workshops, the testing program, and TSSP staff visitation at the statewide level; inservice training, talented-youth seminars, and health careers programs at…

Dillingham High School (grades 7-12) in rural Alaska established a schedule and curriculum which provided students and teachers with an active voice in determining their educational experiences. The result was a group of over 200 one-half-credit "minicourses" offered in a variety of time arrangements. All courses were nongraded through the 9th…

The Oregon Small Schools Program, (an Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title III project) held a week-long institute in the summer of 1972 to demonstrate how construction can be individualized even with a large class load by organizing the curriculum and schedule so everyone can work at his own pace on meaningful projects. Given in this…

The science curriculum for the Fort Benton school system was developed with funds under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to give students the background of a modern and forward-looking program in science taught in an imaginative, investigative, and inquiry-oriented fashion. The science curriculum guide outlines a planned…

The language arts curriculum of the Fort Benton school system was developed with funds under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to stimulate the inherent creative talents of the student with the skills of communication. Basic goals of the K-12 curriculum are to develop an appreciation of varied forms of literature and fine…

While the policy of rural school and district consolidation is not totally devoid of worth, its strengths were greatly exaggerated, its weaknesses simply ignored, and its overall merits as a strategy for educational reform grievously oversold. Despite the massive investments made on its behalf, consolidation has not dramatically alleviated the…

A study of randomly selected Nebraska schools found that small rural elementary schools tended to employ teachers with fewer years of experience than did larger rural or semirural schools. Of 29 rural schools with one or two teachers, there were 14 schools (48%) where average teacher experience was 0-3 years. (JHZ)

Superintendents, principals, and teachers from a statistical sample of small schools throughout the United States completed a needs assessment questionnaire. Concerns seemed less related to curriculum and academics and more related to teacher and student attitude, motivation, and general well-being. Significant differences were found between the…

Reviews factors that may impede the delivery of useful and appropriate diagnostic-intervention services to rural disabled children. Discusses rural parent, educator, school, and community factors as well as state and national policies that must be considered to ensure the provision of quality services to rural students. (JHZ)

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)

Of 105 different course offerings, 36 percent were provided at significantly higher frequencies in large high schools whereas only 2 percent were offered at significantly higher frequencies in small schools. Significant differences were noted in all foreign language and advanced placement courses surveyed and in almost one-half of…

Reports results of a study assessing reading maturity among 188 college-bound students in seven small rural schools and compares results to surveys of seventh graders and college freshmen. Describes the 15-minute reading survey completed by the students and lists 15 ways to develop reading maturity in small rural schools. (JHZ)

It is in small schools' interest to educate parents in behavioral management skills. Concepts taught should include positive reinforcement by shaping, charting, contingency contracting, reinforcing incompatible behavior, and time-out. Parents will need help in becoming more structured in parent/child interactions, aware of reinforcement habits,…

Across the country, increasing numbers of high school students are getting a head start on college by completing some college-level work in high school. Opportunities such as Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment not only boost college-going rates but also save money for families and, potentially, for taxpayers and states. In particular,…

In the 1990s, educational policy in Finland shifted to decentralization and the granting of more local control to municipalities and schools, with the intent of encouraging more active, locally relevant learning. Within national guidelines, schools develop their own curricula and do their own budgeting. Case studies examine how three different…