Building Partnerships in Rural Education.

Overview & Synopsis

In this keynote address, the Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education described federal efforts to foster partnerships in support of rural education. According to the 1980 Census, the country's rural non-farm population grew 11.1% between 1970 and 1980 but rural communities lagged behind the rest of the country in educational achievement and economic well-being. Because rural areas have fewer resources with which to buy more expensive services, educational partnerships between the private and public sectors are essential to quality rural education. The proceedings of the National Partnerships in Education Program, held October 13, 1983, outlined how such partnerships can work, noting that they can help schools get assistance with special resource needs; supplement classroom learning; understand the business world, its resources, its requirements, and its concerns; and gain expertise in technical and management areas. The private sector and community organizations can also provide rural schools with tutoring, apprenticeships, speakers, equipment, scholarships, and motivation. The Department of Education intends to further partnerships in rural education through its Intra-Agency Committee on Rural Education and through the Rural Education Subcommittee of the Federal Interagency Committee on Education. The Department has issued a national rural education policy statement, prepared annual comprehensive rural education reports, reviewed legislation and regulations for rural education equity, and planned a conference on rural education partnerships for June 1984. (SB)