A Region Apart: A Look at Challenges and Strategies for Rural K-12 Schools

When this research report was first conceived, the current economic crisis was only just on the verge of revealing its full extent. Economic crisis or no economic crisis, over the years funding for PK-12 education has been a constant struggle. While all schools continue to face difficulties, for various reasons rural schools have different and unique sets of hurdles to overcome, largely due to factors not faced by most urban and suburban schools: declining enrollment, an aging taxpayer base, and distance. The intent of this research is to present solutions, or at the very least, recommendations for changes that could be made to help maintain and improve student achievement while not increasing cost. The research presented in this report will hopefully present ideas that legislators and administrators can use to perhaps reshuffle funds without having to increase them, or alter practices that could make life more efficient and practical for everyone involved. The following individual reports are presented in this full report: (1) A Summary of the Demographic and Economic Future for Rural Minnesota School Districts (Paul Anton); (2) Strategies for Rural Minnesota School Districts: A literature review (Katie Broton, Dan Mueller, Jennifer Lee Schultz, and Maria Gaona); (3) Learning Communities in Transition: The voices of rural administrators (Julia Williams, Gerry Nierengarten, Kim Riordan; Bruce Munson, and Dan Corbett); and (4) Cost-Effective Policies to Improve Rural K-12 Education in Minnesota (Elton Mykerezi, Judy A. Temple, and Kristine Lamm West). The researchers produced a list of overarching policy recommendations that arose from the three reports. (Individual reports contain appendices, end notes, references, figures, and tables.)