Objectives

To Serve as a national advocate and representative for rural education at all levels: Local-State-Regional-National.

  • Take positions on issues involving rural education.
  • Expand rural publications and services.
  • Enlist a greater participation of the Executive Committee and Standing Committees in the development of issue papers and policy development.

Provide coordination, at the national level, for rural education programs and activities.

  • Maintain liaison with other national organizations related to rural education.
  • Strengthen the working relationship with U.S. Department of Education in the recognition of outstanding rural schools.

Provide leadership for rural education related conferences and workshops.

  • Provide national conference annually.
  • Provide continued support and leadership for annual NREA Rural Education Research Forum and Annual Rural Teacher Symposium.

Provide a forum for all those involved in public education in rural areas–including teachers, administrators, board members, and members of the rural community at large whereby they may come together professionally and exchange ideas.

  • Actively promote membership and active participation of teachers, administrators, board members and the rural community at large.
  • Maintain state delegate system.
  • Maintain affiliate membership system representative of individual states.

Promote state, regional and local delivery systems which bring about efficient and effective education for children in rural areas.

  • Identify rural education needs, materials, and programs.
  • Develop a relationship with mass media and educational technology to serve rural education more efficiently.
  • Establish a communication system utilizing any and/or all of the following: delegate system, publications, legislative, and educational agency contacts.
  • Identify and spotlight delivery systems effectively serving rural areas.
  • Recognize exemplary practices in rural education.
  • Accelerate emphasis on improving rural education delivery systems through the use of distance education technology.

Encourage the collection and dissemination of promising practices, statistical data, and other appropriate information relating to rural education as well as coordinating the sharing of services and resources among educational organizations and agencies.

  • Maintain a strong central NREA office to encourage the collection, and dissemination of promising practices and exemplary programs data.
  • Develop a networking system for the articulation of rural education needs (i.e., School to School, School to State, and State to State).
  • Urge that readers and evaluators of educational programs for national validation, funding, and/or recognition, include rural as well as urban and suburban representatives.

Encourage colleges and universities to develop materials and resources specifically for rural schools and to train school personnel to work more effectively in small schools.

  • Determine what materials and resources for training rural school personnel presently exist.
  • Coordinate the establishment of training programs for educators to assist in their personal adjustment and professional adaptation to living and working in rural areas.

Stimulate discussion, research, and policy development regarding equal educational opportunities for all students.

  • Promote research in rural education and recognize outstanding effort through the NREA Annual Research Award.
  • Promote the use of ERIC/CRESS, and regional labs for research and dissemination related to rural education.
  • Seek grants to stimulate research through the NREA Foundation Endorse National Centers for Rural Education Research on University and College campuses.
  • Maintain liaison with the Consortium of Rural Education Program Administrators.
  • Maintain liaison with Organizations Concerned About Rural Education (OCRE).

Stress the need for public and private agencies to develop specific educational materials and technology appropriate to children in rural areas.

  • Provide data to publishers and media to support need for specific rural materials.
  • Impact publishing houses regarding rural emphasis in texts and related media resources.
  • Recognize the development of exemplary rural curricular and professional development materials.