Funding Needed To Keep Rural Schools On Pace With Nation, Expert Says

Monday, February 25, 2008

While the government struggles to leave no child behind, many rural schools often do not have the resources to keep up, says the director of an association committed to evening the odds.

John Hill, executive director of the National Rural Education Association, a Purdue University-based group that pursues educational equity for rural school districts, says lawmakers and educational pundits often overlook rural educational challenges that differ widely from those faced by urban schools.

"With programs like No Child Left Behind, the federal government is seeking to better our students' educations, but we need to be sure and remind the government that rural schools especially need help in funding the mandates government imposes," Hill said.

An educator with more than 37 years of experience as a teacher and administrator, Hill also serves as a visiting professor of educational studies at Purdue, where the association has been headquartered since January.

The group lobbies for educational equity for rural school districts with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., and supports research into the concerns of such areas through small grants, awards and an annual research symposium.

Hill said rural schools often face financial challenges uncommon in urban areas with a larger tax base from which to draw needed funding.

"When you look at the big picture, about 70 percent of the districts across America are rural districts, but they make up less than half the students," Hill said. "Since funding is often tied to enrollment, one of the biggest concerns for rural districts is a lack of resources. How do you prepare kids for a global economy with limited resources?"

Hill said consolidation, often touted as a money-saving strategy, is not a cure-all for the problems of rural districts since schools now often face unfunded mandates not in effect when consolidation occurred.

"Schools that have consolidated to a single countywide system in rural areas still experience financial difficulties and a lack of qualified teachers," Hill said. "We need to look beyond the wrecking ball to find positive solutions for these children."

Hill's immediate goals for the organization include developing a strategic growth plan and cultivating relationships with key members of Congress. Hill will be involved with rural opportunity programs already in place at Purdue, including the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, which aims to recruit and train qualified teachers in science and mathematics education from the same rural communities who need these educators.

Understanding and addressing issues unique to rural schools will require a patchwork of programs that work together to provide the optimal educational experience for rural schoolchildren, Hill said.

"In many of these schools, whether they be in central Indiana or northern California, you'll find a lack of money and qualified personnel," he said. "Rural schools may be required to teach physics, but they may not have the funding to employ a full-time physics teacher. We need to find creative ways to meet those types of needs."

Hill said Purdue, which has a long history of reaching out to rural communities through programs like the Cooperative Extension Service, is well-positioned to lead rural school initiatives.

"We're going to harness those relationships as we move forward," Hill said. "Our goal is to do a great job for the students of this country."

The National Rural Education Association was organized in 1907 as a voice for rural teachers and administrators. With affiliates in 42 states, the association represents rural schools at the national level, with members who serve on national educational review panels and coalitions.

Purdue's relationship with the association, formerly housed at the University of Oklahoma, came as a result of a national application process.

Source: Purdue University / Tanya Brown

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Time Stamp: 2/25/2008 at 9:52:14 AM CST

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