A national study of rural superintendents identified several fiscal practices to maximize resources, including seeking bids and comparison pricing for purchases, paying bills promptly where discounts are available, employing aggressive energy conservation measures, joining a regional service agency to provide services and programs, and increasing…

Discusses four initiatives proposed by the Alliance for Excellent Education (www.all4ed.org) to improve student success in high school. Involves adolescent literacy, teacher and principal quality, college preparation, and smaller learning communities. Argues for more federal investment in secondary schools. (PKP)

In a study of student and school sources of cultural and social capital, small rural high schools were found to prepare college-eligible Hispanic high school students in greater proportions than large urban high schools. (Author)

Describes the award-winning designs of several K-12 schools, including the educational context and design goals. Includes information on the designers and construction costs. Also includes the floor plan and photographs. (EV)

No Child Left Behind requires that all teachers have a degree in every subject they teach or pass an exam that proves they are "highly qualified" to teach that subject. A story from one Montana town demonstrates how the law is unrealistic for rural and small schools where one teacher may teach many subjects and where teachers are already…

Reports on interviews with community leaders associated with four rural Ohio high schools. Finds that these schools are the nuclei of their communities, are highly valued, and provide a community facility for recreational and cultural activities and for adult meetings. (SV)

Fifty primary school teachers in rural Queensland provided brief biographical descriptions of the children in their classes. A typical class of 24 pupils would average 13 normally adjusted and achieving students, 2 handicapped students, 3 underachieving students, 2 students from migrant or culturally different groups, and 4 students "at…

Reviews DeYoung's book, which depicts the social life of a small rural school and its community, and the particular social, political, and economic circumstances that led to the school's closure. Suggests that the book contains much useful material for those facing a consolidation battle, but that it omits important "instrumental"…

From leading garden tours to planning a visit for Japanese teachers and participating in community theater, middle schoolers at Fort Worth's Applied Learning Academy learn academic content by working on community projects. Students' writing skills soared as they developed, edited, and field-tested brochures and trail-guide maps for their botanical…

As Chicago has discovered, small schools make pursuit of systemic school improvement more manageable. To succeed, restructuring must begin with a group of like-minded teachers. Schools must be constructed vertically, allow considerable choice, and be autonomous. Sidebars show individual students' attitudes toward gangs and deteriorating school…

Surveyed 67 teachers from small school districts to determine their level of interest in being involved in decision-making activities associated with 15 selected principalship-type duties. Activities attracting the highest level of interest relate to the teacher and the classroom such as discipline, curriculum, parents, expenditures, and class…

The University of Alabama's Program for Rural Services and Research uses the following strategies to nurture rural schools: (1) awards program in writing; (2) school newspaper competition; (3) placement of student teachers; and (4) playground development. The Alabama Coalition of Citizens for Excellence in Small Schools gives rural residents a…

Explores the perceptions of 24 inexperienced teachers appointed to isolated rural schools in western Queensland. Focuses on the effects of isolation on the teachers' attitudes, behavior, involvement with the community, and teaching performance. Finds that, contrary to popular belief, many young teachers viewed their experience positively. (SV)

Reviews the impact of local-management-of-schools funding formulae on schools of different size. Examines the ways that over 80 local education authorities (LEAs) have defined formulae to protect their small schools and reports the effect of the change to formula funding from 27 LEAs to describe the pattern of "winning" and…

A former primary headteacher examines problems inherent in the doubly loaded teaching head's role in small (British) primary schools. The demands posed by recent changes have been exacerbated by the headteacher's lack of real freedom to determine an appropriate balance between teaching and managerial responsibilities. Headteachers' special…