Rural Education
Learn more about rural schools and districts, including research and policies that affect rural schools
Student Well-Being
In This District, Students Are Part of the Mental Health Response
Lack of transportation, unreliable internet and other barriers can sometimes make it hard to find mental health care in rural settings.
Science
Rural Students Are More Skeptical of Climate Change. What Should Teachers Do?
Nearly 8 in 10 U.S. teenagers agree with the scientific consensus that climate change is real and mainly caused by human activity.
Student Well-Being
What the Research Says
Telemedicine Could Help Keep Kids in Class
Schools' use of telehealth services expanded during the pandemic, and a study suggests it helps reduce absenteeism.
School & District Management
PCBs' Presence Hits Hard for Rural Schools
A tiny school in northern Vermont is the test case for a statewide PCB testing program that has hit plenty of obstacles.
Education Funding
In Their Own Words
This Superintendent's Tiny, Rural District Got No COVID Aid. Here's Why That Hurts
The aid formula left Long Lake, N.Y., out of the mix. The superintendent worries that could happen for other kinds of aid in the future.
Teaching Profession
In Their Own Words
'I'm Afraid to Return to the Classroom': A Gay Teacher of the Year Speaks Out
Willie Carver, Jr., the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, is questioning his future as a teacher given recent anti-LGBTQ legislative efforts.
School & District Management
Leader To Learn From
A DIY Approach to Boost STEM Engagement in Rural Schools
Arkansas educator's technology integration and mobile STEM lab offer students better access during remote instruction and beyond.
School & District Management
Leader To Learn From
Health Care Was Hard to Come By. So This Superintendent Stepped Up
Ben Thigpen, the superintendent in rural Jones County, N.C., launched a telehealth program to improve medical care for students and staff.
College & Workforce Readiness
Opinion
5 Ways Rural School Leaders Can Create Workforce Opportunities for Students
The key to offering high-quality, work-based learning opportunities to students in rural areas is community building.
College & Workforce Readiness
Video
Resilience, Faith, and Support: How Twin Brothers Forged Diverging Paths to College
Twin brothers from rural Arkansas reflect on their path to college in the midst of the pandemic.
School & District Management
New Research Center to Focus on Rural Leadership, Challenges, and Innovation
The center, to be based at the University of Denver, will be a clearinghouse and resource for those working in and researching rural districts.
Education Funding
Opinion
What's It Take for Philanthropy to Help Rural Schools?
Place-based philanthropy has enormous potential to revitalize rural communities. The trick is, it’s tough to get this sort of approach right.
School & District Management
Leader To Learn From
Nurturing Talent at Home to Revive a Struggling Region
In rural Edgecombe County, N.C., Valerie Bridges is revitalizing the region with micro-schools and a homegrown teacher-development program.
School & District Management
Leader To Learn From
In Navajo Nation, a Star Superintendent Draws on His Ties to the Community
Quincy Natay grew up in Chinle, Ariz. Now he's increasing student access to laptops and Wi-Fi to maintain growth in learning through the pandemic.