Teacher expectations are a powerful factor in the attainment of basic skills. If teachers expect their students to attain basic skills, they are more likely to do so. If teachers do not expect students to do well, that expectation is often fulfilled. (Author/CM)

In the 24 states providing special funding for small, rural, isolated schools, five factors are used to determine eligibility (pupil enrollment, number of teachers, population sparcity, isolation, local effort) and three means are used to direct funds (weighting for basic support, minimal support levels, size adjustment). (LC)

Discusses results of questionnaires (2,847 sent, 1,100 returned) from a random sample of teachers, principals and school board members in 48 states. Schools/districts were K-12 under 300 pupils, high schools under 200 students, or elementary schools under 15 per grade. Lists rural strengths, rural education recommendations. (AN)

Successful provision for the curriculum needs of students in small schools in the 1980s requires design, planning, hard work, and commitment, as well as administrative leadership, involvement of the board of education, staff participation, resources outside the district, and inservice activities. (SB)

Academic cooperatives formed among small high schools and between high schools and centers of higher education offer a means of curriculum diversification. (CM)

Texas small/rural schools often band together to receive services or programs that would not otherwise be available to them. Services and programs are from Regional Education Service Centers and from the Texas Education Agency. Banding together also increases the schools' influence on political and legislative decisions. (CM)

Although the administrator and board of education are primarily responsible for teacher employment in small school districts, the community can provide additional recruitment incentives and should accept some responsibility for a quality education program. Recruitment and maintenance of teachers must become a joint venture between community and…

Survey responses from 68 Ontario principals who administered 141 "twinned" schools indicate that schools were twinned mainly to save money and offer full and better educational programs, yet not much money had been saved nor had educational programs been expanded or improved. From the principals' perspective, the main benefits of…

One school in Canada's Exemplary Schools Project, Grandy's River Collegiate, is a rural high school threatened with closure because it does not meet Newfoundland's new "viability" requirements (primarily involving school size). Compares characteristics of several types of schools, and suggests that schools such as Grandy's are suited to…

Using data from Texas and Wisconsin to estimate cost functions for elementary and secondary education, examines whether the structure of certain cost-function relationships is different in rural versus nonrural school districts. Finds that although cost structures are similar, factors such as small schools and large percentages of economically…

Finds that, among 418 students in 8 New Brunswick (Canada) elementary schools, students in multigrade classes and matched peers in single grades 1-5 did not differ significantly in grade points or total achievement test scores. Reports that 27 of 34 teachers surveyed preferred teaching single grade classes. (SV)

Establishes a rationale for increasing use of interorganizational arrangements among small, rural school districts. Compares two basic forms of interorganizational relations: cooperation and coordination. Identifies several core propositions to guide policy planners and decision-makers when designing cooperative agreements. Includes 34 references.…

Describes a collaboration for school improvement between a rural Texas school district and Texas Tech University, which later expanded to include the parent teacher organization, businesses, and the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Discusses identification of school improvement goals and actions taken in the first year. Contains 13…

Examines dropout rates in small village high schools. Reports that the shift from boarding schools to small village high schools has dramatically reduced the dropout rates of rural Alaska native students. Suggests related characteristics are small size, personalized atmosphere, sense of community, and individualized instruction. (DHP)

Examines the influence of Norwegian populism, with its emphasis on rural roots and community values, on the development of Norwegian education. Discusses populist traits in Norwegian society and populist educational features: strong common school, weak academic tradition, use of New Norse vernacular, importance of informal learning at home,…