Main

August 28, 2007

The "Rural 800" Districts

We wanted to know more about the rural school districts that serve high poverty communities so first we statistically rounded up the 7604 districts nationwide that have over half their students in a school that is physically located in a rural community. Then we identified the 800 – about 10 percent -- that have the highest rate of eligibility for the federal Title I program. That is the program providing funds for disadvantaged students. We’ll call these 800 high-poverty rural districts the "rural 800."

Continue reading to find out more about these districts and to see a chart of the 16 states where most Rural 800 districts are located.

Continue reading "The "Rural 800" Districts" »

February 16, 2007

Arizona Legislative Outlook, 2007

Governor Janet Napolitano’s (D) education plan, “One Arizona” includes raising the dropout age; increasing funding for tutoring, mentoring, and special services aimed at students at-risk of dropping out; a minimum teacher salary of $33,000 and teacher incentive pay. A slew of ballot initiatives passed in November will affect schools. One requires schools to determine and report to the Legislature how many undocumented students attend the school; that same initiative requires undocumented student to pay out-of-state tuition at public colleges and universities and bans them from state financial aid. Another initiative increased the cigarette tax by 80 cents per pack and applies the revenue to early childhood development and health initiatives. It is likely that education groups will push this year in the legislature for more funding for the state’s full-day kindergarten program that was started last year. A bill filed in the State House would provide loans for students in teacher-training programs at one of Arizona’s three public universities and would knock one year of tuition and fees off the balance of the loan for each year the student taught in a school with a designated teacher shortage. Vouchers also have a strong start in Arizona, with individual and corporate tax credits already in place, along with private school vouchers for foster children and disabled children. This program has been challenged in court. Still unresolved is a lawsuit asking for more funding for programs for English Language Learner programs.