Rural Experts Available to Speak About 'No Child Left Behind' Changes

3/15/2004

From: Kathy Westra of the Rural School and Community Trust, 202-955-7177

News Advisory:

The changes to the federal "No Child Left Behind" Act being announced today by the U.S. Department of Education are a positive step in responding to the concerns of rural schools and districts struggling to meet the mandates of the federal education law, according to the Rural School and Community Trust. The new flexibility in defining "highly qualified" teachers is an important acknowledgement by the department of the difficulties faced by rural schools, which make up nearly one-third (31.3 percent) of all U.S. public schools, according to Rachel Tompkins, president of the Rural Trust. Tompkins and other rural experts are available for comment on today's announcement. To set up an interview, contact Kathy Westra, director of communications, at 202-955-7177.

For background information on the impacts of "No Child Left Behind" on rural schools, the following special reports are available as free downloads from the Rural School and Community Trust's website.

"Special Challenges of the 'No Child Left Behind' Act for Rural Schools and Districts" by Lorna Jimerson, Ed.D., can be found at: http://www.ruraledu.org/docs/nclb/jimerson.pdf

Additional Rural Trust resources and research reports relating to NCLB and rural schools can be found at: http://www.ruraledu.org/issues/nclb.htm

"The Competitive Disadvantage: Teacher Compensation in Rural America" can be found at: http://www.ruraledu.org/newsroom/teachpay.htm

The Rural School and Community Trust is a national nonprofit advocacy group.