Reviews current trends in the restructuring of rural economies and labor markets. Outlines metro-nonmetro differences in earnings and production sector job growth, by years of school completed. Discusses rural and community development solutions to local economic problems and the role of education in such development. Contains 15 references. (SV)

Summarizes the major issues and perspectives related to dropout prevention. Reviews general strategies and school-based efforts, with emphasis on community involvement and the teacher-student relationship. Discusses related social and cultural issues, and examines the alternative school approach. Contains 23 references. (SV)

Among 1,035 full-time college freshmen surveyed during their first week of classes, first-generation students reported stronger institutional commitments but did not differ from their peers in goal commitment, self-rated academic ability, or predispositions to academic or social integration. Contains 12 references. (Author/SV)

Defines and describes comprehensive (K-12) developmental guidance programs, explains how such programs provide an appropriate framework and adult role models for raising student aspirations, and reviews research supporting the notion that such programs address the needs of rural students. Contains 14 references. (SV)

Analyzes data from a national sample of 10,415 high school seniors. Reports the effects on educational and occupational aspirations of socioeconomic status, number of siblings, number and gender of parents, and urbanness and the effect of urbanness on parental expectations. Contains 32 references and 9 data tables. (SV)

Reviews research revealing the failure of Maine's rural youth to achieve and aspire to postsecondary education. Outlines development of a statewide business-education partnership--the Maine Aspirations Compact--and a university outreach program--the University of Maine's Aspirations Project--to help Maine's children fulfill their potential.…

Proposes an operational definition of aspiration as any goal toward which an individual invests time, effort, or money; this definition focuses on the dynamics of personal choice, retains the field theory perspective of previous research, suggests new ways of quantifying aspiration levels, and permits comparisons of previously incommensurable…

Examines the experiences and socialization process of beginning teachers. Finds that entry experiences often include unmet expectations that cause stress, frustration, and ultimately lead to exit from the profession. When attributing meaning to surprising events, beginning teachers rely on organizational and individual inputs. (DHP)

Analyzes six-year trend data on enrollment, adjusted assessed valuation, unappropriated fund balance, delinquent taxes receivable, and adjusted maintenance cost in rural school districts. Shows that districts with fewer than three sections per grade experienced greater adverse effects as a result of community demographic and economic change.…

Examines issues of how school districts finance facility needs. Reviews numerous recent legal decisions addressing capital outlay; discusses implications for educational policymakers. Concludes that court proceedings and research literature suggest an important association between wealth dependency and unmet needs in funding school district…

Compares teacher effectiveness of one-way video, two-way audio satellite telecommunications education offerings with traditional classroom, teacher-led offerings. Concludes quality instruction can occur via interactive satellite teaching. Notes the medium makes it difficult for teachers to determine student responses and easier for students to…

Surveys educational and occupational expectations of students, grades 10 to 12, in four rural Ohio schools. Reports females show significantly higher educational and occupational aspirations than males. Areas of anticipated college study and occupational expectations are sex stereotypic; however, young rural women's occupational aspirations are…

Examines attitudes of rural and urban teacher educators and graduate students toward extended teacher education programs. Reports less than 33 percent favor extending the programs. A majority favor increasing professional coursework and field experiences. Results support existing 4-year programs, though urban teachers favor more change than rural…

Compares available placements for severely handicapped students in rural and urban areas. Reports that rural students are more often placed in resource rooms, whereas their more urban peers are placed in special schools. Suggests rural placements are dictated simply by small numbers of severely handicapped students. Contains 16 references.…

Describes results of a survey of libraries serving preservice and graduate level teacher education programs in rural New England, relative to general education and science education holdings. Finds serious deficiencies for both preservice and graduate student programs. Describes patterns of holdings and suggests implications for educators and…