Rural Districts and Small Schools Research and Articles
Mohawk Regional School districts is a small rural district, with small schools and declining population. It is a district at risk. As these articles and informational documents indicate, there is much to understand specific to small, rural districts: declining enrollment, consolidation, cost effective practices, and the stress on communities these challenges cause. In an attempt to shed some light on challenges and potential solutions, BEST complied these resources. We hope they add depth to the current grade configuration discussion and help us envision a model of increased educational enrichment for students with financial sustainability for the towns.
Breaking the Fall: Cushioning Impact of Declining Enrollments.pdf
This report contains 20 policy recommendations, primarily focused on state funding formulas. These recommended policies can accomplish two goals: (1) Buy time and give communities and economies time to rebound and/or adjust to population and revenue loss; and (2) Ensure that all students in communities with declining enrollment are offered an excellent education. Rural Trust Policy Brief Series on Rural Education, Lorna Jimerson, 2006.
School Report: An Evaluation of the Impact of Rural School Consolidation.doc
This document also re-addresses some of the more controversial issues and challenges school closings may present to not only the safety issue- but the social, political, economic, and educational support environment in our rural communities.
Cost Effective Small Schools.pdf
This report was written for members of the community who have an interest in establishing and operating good small schools. It presents findings and offers cost-saving suggestions from 25 sample schools, information that can be used as a jumping-off point for discussions and planning. Knowledge- Works Foundation, 2005.
Public School Trends.pdf (Franklin and Hampshire Counties)
Public School Enrollment, Population Trends, and School Alternatives: Home and private schooling, charter schools, school choice In Franklin and Hampshire Counties. Charts and data points. Collaborative for Educational Services. collaborative.org, September 2015.
Rural School District Consolidation.doc
This paper, provides a review of the literature on rural school consolidation, defines consolidation, addresses current research and issues related to consolidation with respect to school size, economies of scale, and student achievement, and concludes with proposed recommendations for the NREA Executive Board. NREA Consolidation Task Force, April, 2005.
Examining Sparsity in Wisconsin.pdf
What is Rural? Definitions and School Finance Adjustments for Sparsity in Wisconsin and Other States. State Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Rural Schools, Libraries and Communities. Policy Issue Brief, January 2005
Breaking the Fall: Cushioning Impact of Declining Enrollments.pdf
This report contains 20 policy recommendations, primarily focused on state funding formulas. These recommended policies can accomplish two goals: (1) Buy time and give communities and economies time to rebound and/or adjust to population and revenue loss; and (2) Ensure that all students in communities with declining enrollment are offered an excellent education. Rural Trust Policy Brief Series on Rural Education, Lorna Jimerson, 2006.
School Report: An Evaluation of the Impact of Rural School Consolidation.doc
This document also re-addresses some of the more controversial issues and challenges school closings may present to not only the safety issue- but the social, political, economic, and educational support environment in our rural communities.
Cost Effective Small Schools.pdf
This report was written for members of the community who have an interest in establishing and operating good small schools. It presents findings and offers cost-saving suggestions from 25 sample schools, information that can be used as a jumping-off point for discussions and planning. Knowledge- Works Foundation, 2005.
Public School Trends.pdf (Franklin and Hampshire Counties)
Public School Enrollment, Population Trends, and School Alternatives: Home and private schooling, charter schools, school choice In Franklin and Hampshire Counties. Charts and data points. Collaborative for Educational Services. collaborative.org, September 2015.
Rural School District Consolidation.doc
This paper, provides a review of the literature on rural school consolidation, defines consolidation, addresses current research and issues related to consolidation with respect to school size, economies of scale, and student achievement, and concludes with proposed recommendations for the NREA Executive Board. NREA Consolidation Task Force, April, 2005.
Examining Sparsity in Wisconsin.pdf
What is Rural? Definitions and School Finance Adjustments for Sparsity in Wisconsin and Other States. State Superintendent’s Advisory Council on Rural Schools, Libraries and Communities. Policy Issue Brief, January 2005
