Over the past number of years, there has been a great amount of concentrated study, with an equal amount of literature, devoted to the small school in the United States. This paper explores the strengths and weaknesses of small rural schools via a literature review. Although primarily concerned with identifying the small school's alleged strengths…

Based on the proposition that shared decision making affords greater opportunity for the support, commitment, and motivation necessary to achieve improved learning situations in small communities, the Rural Education Program (REP) of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory has developed a planning model to aid small rural school districts.…

A historical case study is presented of the creation of elementary schools for the nomadic tribes of Fars Province in southern Iran (Persia). A brief historical review of the educational opportunities and socioeconomic background of the Fars tribes is given. Additionally, the gradual expansion of the impact of bringing education to the previously…

Abstracts are included of the major papers presented at a working conference focusing on successful educational programs and dissemination of practices. Three papers describe the rural setting by examining the education of American Indian youth, educational systems in the rural South, and change in rural areas. A paper on change gives suggestions…

Designated as Phase I of a larger follow-up study of high school graduates, the report presented a comparison of students' scores on the Minnesota Scholastic Aptitude Test (MSAT) by school size. The population for the study consisted of all high school juniors attending public high schools in Minnesota who had taken the MSAT during the 1966-67…

The Community Centered School Support Program, also known as the Bingham Project, is not a new idea but rather a more structured application of an old concept. The plan assists small rural schools with inadequate guidance funds to establish a career information program at a minimum cost using the community, a heretofore untapped resource. The…

The study attempted to determine whether any significant differences of educational achievement, as measured by a standard test of academic performance, existed between groups and subgroups within 2 high school levels of varied ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The study was conducted at Hot Springs High School, Truth or Consequences (New…

The 1971 Oregon Small Schools Program summer institute at Willamette University, June 14-18, was attended by 200 elementary and secondary teachers, librarians, counselors, principals, and superintendents from more than 50 Oregon school districts. The major purpose of the summer institute (funded under Title III of the Elementary and Secondary…

The regional approach as an alternative for meeting the needs of rural youth is discussed in comparison to the small school district which cannot possibly serve the broad spectrum of student needs in rural areas. The rural educational setting and its shortcomings are described as the lack of facilities, a lack of an obvious connection between…

Alaska has made many attempts to find methods for providing a quality education for students living in rural areas. They include regional schools, boarding dormitories, the Boarding Home Program, area and local high schools, and correspondence study. This booklet discusses the strong and weak points relative to the major financial, social, legal,…

The trades and industry curriculum for the Fort Benton school system was designed 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, designed for grades…

Development of rural education in the USSR should not be based upon comparison with the USSR's urban education; rather, it should be perceived as an educational alternative with inherent advantages. The shift to compulsory secondary education as accomplished during the 1971-75 five-year period has established education as a major factor in the…

A survey of rural school administrators and college education faculty assessed attitudes toward educating the disabled and opinions about characteristics of effective rural education. Results documented a knowledge and attitude gap between rural and college educators. Both groups were unaware of issues identified in the research literature on…

Five case studies of 7- to 14-year-olds mainstreamed (by necessity) in isolated rural Queensland (Australia) schools were reviewed. Five factors influenced mainstreaming outcomes: (1) the "self-sufficiency myth" (2) availability of specialist support; (3) effective use of support services; (4) quality of staff communication; and (5) lack…

Describes survey of student use of microcomputers in 319 small and 350 large public high schools throughout the United States. Finds 99% of schools owned microcomputers chiefly for instructional purposes. Discusses problems of large student/computer ratios, high costs of microcomputers and software, and teacher reluctance to use new technology.…