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Introduction to the American Youth Policy Forum Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization

Introduction to the American Youth Policy Forum Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Disseminates best practices and successful policies in education, youth development and workforce readiness Resources online at www.aypf.org

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Introduction to the American Youth Policy Forum Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization

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  1. Introduction to the American Youth Policy Forum • Washington, DC-based nonprofit, nonpartisan organization • Disseminates best practices and successful policies in education, youth development and workforce readiness • Resources online at www.aypf.org • Field trips for federal and state policy leaders • February, 2010 field trip for federal policy audience to North Carolina focused on rural education

  2. Overview • Defining “rural” • What makes rural schools unique? • Key issues in policy and practice • Examples of innovations from North Carolina • Federal funding for rural schools

  3. What is “Rural?” Rural settings are varied • Wide range of income groups and geographic settings NCES locale code definition: • Districts are classified as “City,” “Town” or “Rural” • “Rural” defined by proximity to urbanized center or urban cluster • 3 sub-categories of Rural • Rural, Fringe • Rural, Distant • Rural, Remote • See NCES for more on locale codes: http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/rural_locales.asp

  4. Understanding Rural Education Half of all operating school districts are in rural areas In general, rural districts: • Are smaller districts that serve fewer students than more urbanized districts • Deal with many of the same challenges as urban districts • 20% of “dropout factories” are in rural areas • Gangs are common • Teen pregnancy and substance abuse are prevalent • May be challenged by flagging local economies • Problem of “brain drain” as schools educate students who do not stay in the community

  5. Key Issues 1) Partnerships are key to rural schools • Cross-district collaboration • Cross-sector collaboration (e.g. working with businesses, community-based organizations and with postsecondary system to enhance options) • Example of statewide Learn and Earn in North Carolina

  6. Key Issues (cont’d) 2) Technology enables innovation in rural schools • Virtual coursework for individualized learning • Utilizing out-of-district teachers to fill gaps in teaching faculty • Technology enables interactive learning (e.g. use of SMART Boards) • Technology access in entire community may be limited; district efforts may reach beyond the student • Example of Connect Bertie in Bertie County

  7. Key Issues (cont’d) 3) Recruiting and retaining new teachers and leaders is a challenge • Difficult to attract top candidates, both geographically and in terms of pay • Distance from industries • No consistent pipeline of talent • Important role of grow-your-own approaches and alternative routes such as Teach for America • Recruitment of mid-career professionals to teaching (e.g. Wachovia Partnership East)

  8. Key Issues (cont’d) 4) Transportation, transportation, transportation • Long commutes for students • High cost of providing transportation is limiting • Lack of affordable transportation restricts expanded learning opportunities that might otherwise be available • Some new efforts to utilize technology on the bus

  9. Key Issues (cont’d) 5) Agricultural education is evolving • Schools can orient science and technology curriculum to fit the needs of the local economy • Bertie Early College High School – the “Ag School” • Co-operative extension programs, 4H and Future Farmers of America play an active role • NC State Department of 4H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences providing updated STEM curriculum for agricultural science courses

  10. Key Issues (cont’d) 6) Innovative school models can be implemented • Often with support of a national or statewide organization with local TA • Examples in North Carolina: New Tech Network and NC New Schools Project • Collaboration with postsecondary institutions • Example of Early College High Schools • Public school choice models do exist • Example of Warren County

  11. Federal Funding for Rural Education Rural Education Achievement Program • Small Rural Schools Achievement Program • $87 million in FY2009 • Average district award was $19,457 • Awards to approximately 4000 LEAs • Rural and Low-Income School Program • $86 million in FY2009 • Average district award was $57,000 • Awards to approximately 1200 LEAs

  12. Resources • Rural School and Community Trust: http://www.ruraledu.org • National Rural Education Association: http://www.nrea.net/ • American Youth Policy Forum: www.aypf.org (Andrea Browning; abrowning@aypf.org; 202-775-9731)

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