Chronicle of Rural Education

Picture-Perfect Learning: Capturing Rural School Community Connections

2025-03-14T13:54:01+00:00

Editorial

Fighting the Good Fight: How to Overcome Aspects of Rurality as an ELA Instructor in a Progressive Northeastern State

2025-01-09T16:44:56+00:00

This article explores the barriers or rurality that ELA educators face in northeastern districts when trying to implement diverse curriculum or course electives. Rurality in the northeast is rarely discussed or researched leaving these educators isolated and facing unforseen obstacles on their own without any guidance. This article aims to explore these barriers and offer suggestions for how to combat these obstcacles to enhance education for all students.

Afterschool STEM Programs: Fostering Academic Growth and STEM Engagement in Rural Communities

2025-02-16T19:53:41+00:00

This study examines the impact of an afterschool STEM program on rural elementary students' academic growth and STEM engagement in Oklahoma. The 12.5-week program, designed for upper elementary students, focused on developing math skills and fostering interest in STEM careers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study assessed 20 participants' progress through pre- and post-tests of multiplication skills and STEM attitudes. Results showed significant improvements in multiplication abilities, with a mean increase of 23.53% in correct answers. Students also demonstrated increased interest in STEM careers (12.11%), science attitudes (14.16%), and science interest (14.82%). The program's outcomes are analyzed through Lerner's 5 C's model of Positive Youth Development, highlighting gains in competence, nuanced changes in confidence, and stronger connections to STEM fields. While limitations include a small sample size and short duration, the study provides valuable insights into the potential of targeted afterschool interventions to support rural students' STEM development and address educational disparities.

Improving Organizational Capital Utilizing State Funded Grant Initiatives

2024-04-30T15:23:28+00:00

School executive leadership, the superintendency, is the juggling of many issues, including proper budgeting oversight, planning for school improvement, targeting classroom instruction, making decisions regarding human capital, and integrating the philosophies of the community represented by the school board into all areas of the school design and operations. All of these requirements of leadership play a role in selecting, writing and facilitation of state funded grant initiatives. This paper explores the selection and implementation of state grant initiatives in an action research study and is conveyed as a narrative inquiry through reflection of a small rural school superintendent.

Small Town, Big Discussions: Perceptions of the Big Topics Youth Development Program

2024-04-26T17:28:14+00:00

In response to the surge of outward migration of individuals from rural communities, the Rural [Name] Initiative [State] University conducted a study on the Big Topics Youth Leadership Program seeking to improve and revitalize its rural community. Seven individuals, who were all former participants of the program during high school, comprised the cohort for this study and were interviewed to understand how they perceived the program impacted them and their lives due to their participation. Five themes emerged providing insight and understanding to the value and benefit participants gained from their participation. The five included: a) expansion of critical thinking, b) widening of perspective, c) formulation and expression of opinions, d) relationship building, and e) preparedness for the future. Findings suggest all participants perceived the program to be worthwhile and valuable to their overall personal and long-term development. Recommendations for future research related to this program and similar programs are provided.