Why rural matters 2011 12

A recent study by Dr. During the pandemic, many educational resources have moved online, including textbooks and reference materials. For those without adequate internet connection, completing assignments can be very challenging or impossible.

This particular challenge is known as the homework gap and is more common for rural students. Schools across the country have attempted to expand access to high speed connection for students through a variety of avenues, including mobile hot spots, internet-equipped iPads, and school buses equipped with Wi-Fi.

In North Carolina, over 75, hot spots were distributed to schools by late October. Other students and parents have utilized maps with public Wi-Fi locations to gain internet access.

The NC Rural Center suggests the following steps to help close to digital divide. First, raise the speed standard for federal investments in rural broadband. Second, leverage federal investments to expand rural high-speed broadband. And finally, continue to prioritize the connection of anchor institutions to high-speed broadband, particularly our public libraries.

There have been recent funding efforts to improve broadband connectivity. Also in summer , the U. Department of Public Instruction to help further develop innovative instructional approaches for those students most affected by disruptions to schooling. NC Student Connect includes state government departments such as the N.

Department of Information Technology, N. Business Committee for Education. At this point, over 70 providers have submitted grant applications to the Office of State Budget and Management. Rural schools face unique and complex challenges. Funding disparities between rural and urban communities mean fewer resources and opportunities for rural students.

Many popular reforms can actually impede success in rural areas. These proposed reforms reveal a lack of appreciation of the particular issues facing rural schools.

Since the North Carolina General Assembly lifted the school cap on charter schools in , the number of charter schools in North Carolina has nearly doubled.

Charter schools are causing financial strain in rural districts. Rural schools run on smaller budgets with little room for reduction of funds. As students leave traditional public schools for charter schools, fewer students are left behind at the traditional public schools. This diverts funds from already underfunded schools, causing a greater impact in rural areas.

When students leave smaller district schools for charters and take allotted funding amounts with them, fixed costs like building maintenance and repair do not decrease and schools are left scrambling to make up for the loss. Voucher programs divert local tax dollars to largely unregulated private entities that run private schools. Taxpayers do not see how the money is used or who is spending it.

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Email address for updates. My profile My library Metrics Alerts. Sign in. Get my own profile Cited by View all All Since Citations h-index 20 16 iindex 33 A new report co-authored by Ohio University faculty and alumni found that the time is now for federal and state leaders to focus on rural students who face dire inequity. Nearly one in five U. Klein explained. That vibrancy will depend in large part on investing in those communities through education, and also from reasserting that those who are educated in rural areas have much to contribute to those areas.

Hartman said many of the millions of students attending rural schools in the United States face challenges in larger numbers as compared to children in non-rural settings. In regards to educational opportunities, she said great disparity exists across rural areas.

Addressing these challenges is essential for ensuring positive outcomes for rural students. As a nation, Dr. Spring Issue 2. Fall Issue 1. Fall Issue 2. Subscribe to receive an e-version of Rural Matters:. Name Please enter your name. Email Address Please enter a valid email address. Thanks for subscribing to Rural Matters! Please check your email for further instructions.