The September 2011 edition of Rural Policy Matters includes stories about place-based learning in high-poverty schools; new policy pressures on Alabama teachers; a new sponsor for legislation to bring fairness to the Title I formulas; school discipline; poverty in the U.S.; charter school legislation; Rural School Funding News; and more…
More from the Rural Trust
Facts and Figures About States With Low Rural Graduation Rates
Question: In which states are average graduation rates for rural students below the U.S. rate? (Hint: U.S. rural graduation rate is 69.2%.)
Place-Based Learning Offers Opportunities for High-Poverty Rural Schools
Place-based learning is a way for schools struggling with poverty, isolation, and limited resources to expand opportunities for students, improve achievement, and strengthen the community, all at the same time…
Rural Winners of Lenore Annenberg School Fund Grant Delve Into Place-Based Learning
Teachers in two rural elementary schools recently participated in place-based learning workshops that will help engage their students in the local community…
Alabama Teachers In Political and Legal Crosshairs
Alabama uses back-door methods to limit the political activity of teachers…
New Co-Sponsor of All Children Are Equal Act
The All Children are Equal Act in the U.S. House of Representatives has a new co-sponsor…
Don’t Miss It!
Don’t miss commentary by Marty Strange, Rural Trust Policy Director, in Education Week…
Bill Would Expand Federal Funding for Charter Schools
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that would increase federal funding for charter schools…
In The ‘Size Matters’ Category…
Missouri votes to diminish accreditation status of two very small rural school districts based on student test scores…
Poverty Increasing in Most States
It’s not news, but the increase in poverty in the U.S. since 2000 is striking. This interactive map shows state-by-state 30-year trends…
Alabama Immigration Law Impacting Schools Temporarily Halted
Alabama schools will not have to document and report the immigration status of their students…
Arkansas Considers Changes to Education Programs in Youth Lockups
Arkansas lawmakers contemplate giving authority for education in juvenile justice centers to local school districts…
South Dakota Lawsuit Ends
South Dakota’s Supreme Court has found that plaintiffs did not show the state’s school system was “clearly and unmistakably” unconstitutional…
Committee Releases Initial Proposals for School Funding in Georgia
A committee to recommend changes to Georgia’s 25-year old school finance system released its initial proposals this month…
Arizona Revisits Consolidation
Arizona legislators consider consolidation options for school districts…
School District Enrollment by Locale, 2009-10
A two-graph bonus of enrollment information about U.S. schools…
More from the Rural Trust
Visit the I3 Webpage
Consolidation
Fight-Back Toolkit
Formula Fairness Campaign 
Rural Policy Matters is a monthly newsletter which provides news of interest to citizens and community groups working on state-level policy issues affecting rural schools. For subscription information visit www.ruraledu.org/getrpm.html.
Comments, questions, and contributions for Rural Policy Matters should be sent to:
Rural School and Community Trust
Policy Program
41 Graham Street
Bethel, VT 05032
Phone: 802.728.5899
Fax: 802.728.2011
E-mail: policy.program@ruraledu.org
Editor: Robin Lambert, robin.lambert@ruraledu.org
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