ERIC Number: ED393619
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1995
Pages: 49
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Raising Aspirations of New York State's Rural Youth. A Resource Book of Successful Programs and Strategies for Rural School Districts.
Metis Associates, Inc., New York, NY.
The Rural Education Advisory Committee, established in 1990 by the New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, was asked to identify and disseminate information on raising the aspirations and increasing educational opportunities for rural students. An examination of effective rural New York school districts led to identification of indicators of high student aspiration: high annual attendance rate, low annual suspension rate, low annual dropout rate, high percentage of students receiving regents diplomas, high percentage of students planning to attend college, and high percentage of students taking advanced regents examinations. Indicators of low community resources included high percentage of children living in poverty, low expenditure per pupil, and low index of community wealth based on property value and income. Twenty-two New York rural school districts were identified as having a high number of student aspiration indicators, while at the same time being in the lowest quarter of community resources. Data from interviews revealed two broad categories of program initiatives: school-based and community-based. School-based initiatives included raising standards of achievement, setting sights on college, focusing on early reading, recognizing success and building self-esteem, innovative grouping of students, staff involvement, and use of computer technology. Community-based activities included business involvement, educational partnerships, working with community organizations, and engaging parents. Appendices include a list of participating school districts and contacts, examples of strategies and activities implemented by school districts, and descriptions of 16 promising programs. Each description includes school district, contact person, targeted students, description of program or strategy, brief history of program, and what is needed for program replication. (LP)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Academic Aspiration, Community Resources, Educational Opportunities, Educational Practices, Educational Strategies, Elementary Secondary Education, Learning Motivation, Program Descriptions, Rural Education, Rural Schools, Rural Youth, School Districts, Student Development
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Reference Materials - Directories/Catalogs
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: New York State Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, Albany.
Authoring Institution: Metis Associates, Inc., New York, NY.
Identifiers - Location: New York
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A