This paper aims to report a study that develops knowledge of the geographic periphery as architecture for leadership practices by principals in small primary schools with no more than four teachers. The geographic periphery has different prerequisites from geographic centers. Sweden is a rural country that also has large cities which attract…

Population decline poses significant challenges to small schools worldwide, including resource management, student retention, and community engagement. In South Korea, these challenges have been amplified by a shift from centralized education policies to regionally tailored approaches under provincial superintendents. This study analyzed the…

This research aimed to study the current conditions, desirable conditions, and needs assessment in participatory school administration of small primary schools under the Office of Basic Education Commission in the Northeastern region. The sample consisted of 367 teachers from small primary schools under the Office of Basic Education Commission in…

Across the U.S., a growing movement toward education freedom is driving the rise of "edupreneurs"--educators, parents and entrepreneurs creating innovative learning environments designed to meet the needs of individual kids. As used in this paper, the term edupreneur includes owners and operators of private schools and programs for…

Catholic schools have faced enrollment challenges for at least two decades. The staggering numbers of Catholic school closures should compel all stakeholders to reflect on the traditional model of Catholic schools and consider what alternative models could more effectively carry out the mission of the Church. Alternative school models, such as…

Catholic schools have faced enrollment challenges for at least two decades. The staggering numbers of Catholic school closures should compel all stakeholders to reflect on the traditional model of Catholic schools and consider what alternative models could more effectively carry out the mission of the Church. Alternative school models, such as…

Catholic schools have faced enrollment challenges for at least two decades. The staggering numbers of Catholic school closures should compel all stakeholders to reflect on the traditional model of Catholic schools and consider what alternative models could more effectively carry out the mission of the Church. Alternative school models, such as…

A teacher competency instrument was developed to determine the level of teacher competency in small schools in Peninsular Malaysia. This study was conducted in Perak and Negeri Sembilan to determine the instrument's reliability and validity. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and item reliability analysis were used to determine the questionnaire's…

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the entire U.S. education system, with many educators experiencing high levels of stress and burnout as they navigate the increased challenges. This study focused on the burnout experienced by heads of microschools, which are small, community-based schools that typically serve fewer than…

The purpose of this study is to address teacher retention within a small independent school. Nationally teacher turnover is at a critical level, and few schools are exempt from this crisis. As in many small independent schools, resources are limited. Any changes need to be impactful and sustainable, and exploration of the reasons behind the…

This paper employs Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) as an analytical heuristic in exploring the internationally prevalent situation of teaching out-of-field. Drawing on interview transcripts, we use CHAT to frame the activity of a young teacher teaching mathematics out-of-field in a small rural K-12 school in Australia. We identify and…

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in the educational system, placing a substantial burden on teachers. Since the onset of the pandemic, ample quantitative research has been conducted, documenting increased rates of anxiety, stress, and burnout among teachers. However, these rates do not provide an explanation for why teachers…

We evaluate the impacts of small high schools on youth risky behaviors and mental health in New York City, using a two-sample-instrumental-variable approach to address endogenous school enrollment. We find heterogeneous effects. School size, overall, has little effect. Among "students" most likely to attend small schools opened…

This study aims to develop an integrated Project-Based Learning (PBL) model based on Values, Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge (VASK), specifically designed for small-sized schools and mixed-grade classrooms. Employing a phenomenological study approach with a mixed-methods data structure, the research explores two key questions: What are effective…

Seismic shifts are shaking the landscape of K-12 education. Public school districts across the US have lost over a million students since 2020. Meanwhile, novel educational models--such as microschools and hybrid homeschooling--have more than doubled their enrollments. This paper explores what's driving families to seek these new learning…