School improvement in rural places cannot succeed without attention to the rural context of learning. Most especially, smaller schools need to be preserved and sustained in rural areas, particularly impoverished communities, for the sake of student achievement and personal development. This school improvement tool suggests the character of a "good…

This document consists of the 10 issues of the newsletter Rural Policy Matters published in 1999. The newsletter seeks to promote understanding of the complex issues affecting rural schools and communities, to inform the public debate over rural education policy, and to report what rural people are doing to shape education policy in their state.…

This proceedings contains 25 presentations and summaries of presentations from the 22nd annual Rural and Small Schools Conference held at Kansas State University. Entries of three or more pages are: "Technical Education for Rural Kansas" (Ralph Beacham); "Galactic Explosion at Cool School" (summer science program) (Sue…

Available in English or French, this reference guide summarizes the funding of Manitoba public schools for the 2000-2001 school year. School funding for operating and capital expenses is administered by the provincial government. Following a list of 2000-2001 revisions to the Schools Finance Program, the first section describes base support. The…

In multigrade instruction, children of at least a 2-year grade span and diverse ability levels are grouped in a single classroom and share experiences involving intellectual, academic, and social skills. "The Multigrade Classroom" is a seven-book series that provides an overview of current research on multigrade instruction, identifies key issues…

This study examines Pilot Schools, which were created via a partnership among Boston's mayor, school committee, superintendent, and teachers union, to promote increased choice options within the school district. The initiative provides models of educational excellence to help foster widespread educational reform in all Boston public schools. Each…

Since New Zealand introduced the Tomorrow's Schools reform in 1989, concerns have arisen about its effects on the school principalship. The main concerns relate to increased workload for principals, especially in small rural schools, and the potential for conflicts between the principal and rural community members. It was feared that such problems…

This report examines state aid to each school system in Nebraska, comparing funding in school year 1997-98 to proposed state aid in 2000-01. State aid received in 1997-98 was the last before passage of LB-806, which set the current school funding formula. This legislation has produced clear winners and losers, with the number of losers now…

This paper compares state aid to each school system in Nebraska for school years 1997-98 and 1999-2000. State aid received in 1997-98 was the last before passage of LB-806, which set the current school funding formula. LB-1114, which caps local property tax levies, was adopted by the Legislature in 1996. The combined effects of these two laws…

This document presents research findings about the results well-run small schools produce. It begins by giving definitions of the various types of small schools and smaller learning communities, such as focus or "theme" schools, freestanding schools, and schools-within-a-building. It discusses the requirements for success as identified by…

The National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform recommends that national, state, and local policymakers provide resources and support to create small schools at the middle-grades level. In those cases where small schools are not feasible, the National Forum recommends that district and school leaders break down large middle-grades schools…

Surveyed middle school parents, teachers, and principals from small and large schools in South Dakota to determine consistency/discrepancy of discipline concerns and whether these concerns differed due to school size. Revealed great discrepancies between parent attitudes and those of teachers or principals concerning use of drugs, alcohol, and…

Discusses problems encountered by new superintendents in small schools and provides insights on how to deal with them. (AH)

Teachers and their students in the small British open schools resemble a family. The goals are carefully conceived and directed but may be carried out on an impromptu basis to meet the students' unique needs. (Author/MLF)