RT Policy Department


Rural School and Community Trust Policy Strategy

The Policy Strategy of the Rural School and Community Trust is outlined in this article.
Date: April 01, 2013
Related Categories: Policy Services
Related Tags: RT Policy Department


Marty Strange, Long-Time Policy Director At Rural Trust Resigns

Earlier this month, Marty Strange, Rural Trust Policy Director, resigned his position to return to consulting on a range of rural issues.
Date: January 27, 2012
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: RT Policy Department


Why Rural Matters 2011-2012 Released This Month

Overall rural enrollment in the nation’s schools continued to increase in recent years, in part because of significant increases in the numbers of Hispanic students. Rural poverty has also increased. These findings and many more were revealed with the release of Why Rural Matters 2011–12 earlier this month. Learn about rural education issues in your state and across the nation.
Date: January 27, 2012
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: RT Policy Department, School Location, Why Rural Matters


Why Rural Matters 2011-12: Statistical Indicators of the Condition of Rural Education in the 50 States

WhyRural Matters 2011-12Why Rural Matters 2011–12 is the sixth in a series of biennial reports analyzing the contexts and conditions of rural education in each of the 50 states and calling attention to the need for policymakers to address rural education issues in their respective states.


Why Rural Matters 2011-12 Press Release

Nearly one in four American children attend rural schools and enrollment is growing at a faster rate in rural school districts than in all other places combined, according to Why Rural Matters 2011–12, a biennial report by the Rural School and Community Trust.


Taking Advantage of the Rural Preference in the Investing in Innovation Grant Competition

The so-called “rural preference” in the federal i3 competition did little to attract authentically rural proposals.


The Rural Factor in the New Republican Majority in the U.S. House of Representatives

The rural vote played a big role in changes in Congress. But not in all the ways it’s been portrayed…
Date: November 26, 2010
Related Categories: Administrator, Elected Official/Staff, Policy Maker, Rural Policy Matters, What's New
Related Tags: RT Policy Department


Rural Trust Wishes Harrison Well in New Position

Lynnette Harrison, member of Rural Trust’s Field Services staff, has taken a new position…
Date: November 26, 2010
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: Community Organizing, Education Policy and Activism, RT Policy Department


Rural Trust Launches Title I Formula Fairness Campaign

The Rural Trust is organizing to eliminate unfair and discriminatory treatment of small and rural districts in the formula for distributing funds to local school districts under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Learn more about the Campaign and how you can get involved.
Date: February 25, 2010
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters, Rural Trust Recommends
Related Tags: RT Policy Department, School/District Size, Title I


Why Rural Matters 2009: State and Regional Challenges and Opportunities

The fifth Why Rural Matters (WRM) biennial report from the Rural Trust is the nation’s most broad-ranging look at rural education in all 50 states. This year’s report finds that rural enrollment continues to grow across the country. As in the past, rural schools and students facing the biggest challenges are located in a southern band of states stretching from California across the southwest through the Deep South and into Appalachia. In these states public policy tends to make challenges worse not better.
 
New to WRM 2009 is a closer look at rural districts with the highest poverty rates in each state. Severe obstacles to student learning exist in these districts even in states where rural students generally fare reasonably well. However, student outcomes in some states are much better than in others suggesting that policy does indeed make a difference for students with the most challenges to high achievement. Read more about the major findings of WRM 2009 and check out results for your state…
Date: November 29, 2009
Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters
Related Tags: All States, RT Policy Department, Why Rural Matters


Rural School and Community Trust Capitol Hill Briefing

Monday, November 16, 2009, 3:00-4:00pm EST, the Rural School and Community Trust will present a Capitol Hill briefing to discuss findings from its recent research report Why Rural Matters 2009.


Why Rural Matters 2009: State and Regional Challenges and Opportunities

Why Rural Matters 2009Why Rural Matters 2009 is the fifth in a series of biennial reports analyzing the contexts and conditions of rural education in each of the 50 states and calling attention to the need for policymakers to address rural education issues in their respective states.


High-Poverty Rural, Small Town Districts Concentrated in Distinct Regions

The poorest rural school districts educate more than a million students with poverty rates higher than many cities. These districts are concentrated in distinct regions, mainly across the southern half of the country from California to North Carolina and into central Appalachia…


Groups Address School Pushout Crisis

As community groups and child advocates respond to increasing incidents of severe and excessive school discipline and rising rates of students being pushed out of school, it’s becoming clearer what kinds of approaches can help…


Identifying the Poorest Rural Schools

The Rural Trust has identified the 900 poorest rural districts in the country. Here’s how we did it…