Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools (Cress)
Provides a wealth of bibliographic information, digests on vital topics, directories and other products not only about rural education, but also about Native American, Mexican American, and migrant education, outdoor and experiential education and small schools. Topics and materials include: UnCommon Knowledge: “The Voices of Girls” (a documentary on rural young women’s exploration of science and math), What’s New in Rural Education (the best books and resources in ERIC’s databases for rural education), and ERIC Digests (summaries of education literature – informative, easy to review, and free).
http://www.ael.org/eric/rural.htm

Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM)
Currently includes more than 7,000 items. Use this site to start your searches. The GEM consortium is spearheaded by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology. Teachers can type a topic, grade level, and other information into a search screen that retrieves from more than 140 web sites' lessons, instructional units, and other free educational materials on the specified topic. (CASN Top 75).
http://www.thegateway.org/

The Rural Education Clearinghouse site also shares news about small schools including grant information, what’s new in small schools, conferences, clearinghouse bookstore and a new Small Schools Directory (2002). The Directory shares descriptions and links to regional, national and international organizations, funding, federal programs, publications and state organizations.
http://www.ael.org/eric.small.htm

See also the Rural Clearinghouse section categories for American Indian and Alaska Native Education, the Mexican American Education, the Migrant Education and the Outdoor Education sections.

The Heartland Center for Leadership Development
Offers a broad spectrum of programs such as workshops for community and neighborhood leadership groups through multiyear projects assessing the impact of national community development models. Publishes a newsletter, booklets, and guides on effective strategies for community and economic development, renewing community leadership, and community survival including Clues to Rural Community Survival and Workbook, Schools as Entrepreneurs: Helping Small Towns Survive, Building Local Leadership, Five Strategies for Active Economic Development, Ten Ideas for Recruiting New Leaders. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.heartlandcenter.info/

The National Network of Regional Education Laboratories
The United States Department of Education funds ten Regional Education Laboratories throughout the country. The Laboratories each have websites with valuable information for their region of the country. They also offer research, professional development and coaching services on a myriad of issues to support states and local communities in changing and improving their educational systems and services.
http://www.relnetwork.org/

The Lab for Kansas and Wyoming is Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning
http://www.mcrel.org/
The Labs are required to focus a significant portion of their funds on rural areas and have designed a website that compiles all the rural resources from the ten labs called:

Pulling Together - R & D Resources for Rural Schools
The primary purpose of the Pulling Together site is to “provide individual educators and learning communities in rural areas with resources developed by the ten members of the National Network of Regional Education Laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Education.” These resources include web sites, publications, guides, toolkits, audio tapes, CDs and research. Resource categories include assessment, community, diversity, leadership/management/policy, school improvement, standards, teaching/curriculum and technology. Within the site, you will find Pulling Together: The Rural Circumstance (June, 1999), a very effective research document sharing the condition of rural America.
http://www.ncrel.org/rural

Middleweb
The premiere website for all the connections and information anyone could dream up about middle school reform, results, and practices. Special to Middleweb is the Teachers First Days section that is extremely helpful to teachers just starting and the administrators and colleagues helping them. Middleweb shares the details about reform models and has thousands of resources about hundreds of topics. Plus they have all the links and resources for a huge list of topics. The reason for its placement in highly recommended section is this: while it focuses on middle grades, it shares cutting edge methodologies that strongly effect all grade levels including small learning communities, teacher teaming and collaboration, teacher advisory, project based learning, integrated curriculum, effective assessment, changing education philosophy and operations and exploring schools as community resources. If you want to learn how to do something and where to get connected in the “new stuff” – check middleweb first. They also have regular email newsletters on the hottest happenings.
http://www.middleweb.com/

The Mentoring Center
Operated by the Northwest Regional Educational Lab, this premiere mentoring resource and organization provides training events, on-line “e-courses” learning courses, a lending library, web resources, and MentorExchange - a discussion forum for mentoring professionals around the world. Best of all, the Mentoring Center has effective publications on starting, operating and addressing special issues with the complex implementation of mentoring programs, many written in collaboration with Public/Private Ventures. Check out the Strengthening Mentoring Programs Training Curriculum offering 10-module tools for training program staff and mentors, and the Technical Assistance Packets – an additional six guidebooks to enhance mentoring services and training. Topics covered include recruiting mentors, training, screening, supporting matches, same-race/cross-race matching, marketing/fundraising, measuring outcomes, and school-based mentoring. The Center also provides sample forms for communities to utilize and adapt for their needs and a special publication on student mentoring. Many of these items you can download, receive on CD-rom, request as hard copies (for free!).
http://www.nwrel.org/mentoring

National Youth Development Information Center
Sponsored by the National Collaboration for Youth (close to 40 national youth partners), this website contains resources about every facet of youth development. An easy to use system directs users to policy, career development, program, development, funding opportunities, evaluation, publications and a huge list of directories. There is also a “Don’t Miss This!” section with the latest policy, funding and job news.
http://www.nydic.org/

Place Value: An Educator’s Guide to Literature on Rural Lifeways, Environments, and Purposes of Education
Written by Toni Hass and Paul Nachtigal, the original directors of the Rural School and Community Trust. Through five bibliographical essays, the authors share key classroom examples and literature connecting rural people to their community schools. While reviewing literature was the main intent of the book, it actually describes a unique way of thinking and a beautiful philosophy about Rural America. The five essays cover ecology, politics, economy, values and spirituality with probing questions for discussions at the end of each. If you only have time to read a few books this year, make sure this one is on the list!
Call ERIC publications at (800) 624-9120.
http://www.ael.org/eric/rurabook.htm

Rural Education Achievement Program
American Association of School Administrators
Congress appropriated effort to provide funds for 5,000 rural school districts having fewer than 600 students, making it easier for small rural school to use federal education programs. REAP has two parts. The small, rural school Achievement Program offers new funds for districts. The other is the Rural and Low-Income School Programs, a competitive grant specifically for low-income rural districts. The American Association of School Administrators was instrumental in REAP’s creation and has all the details on their website including a link to the on-line application and other rural information and research.
http://www.aasa.org/government_relations/rural

Rural Information Center
Sponsored by the USDA Cooperative State Research Education & Extension Services and the National Agricultural Library, RIC “provides information and referral services” to support the “vitality of America’s rural areas.” Combining the technical and content expertise of the Extension’s national network with the resources from the world’s foremost agricultural resource library, RIC offers an extensive amount of information.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric

Here are several items to check out in this website:
 The link section has an extensive list of categories ranging from the arts, business and labor, youth, housing, social, sustainable development resources and transportation.
 A great publication section and a fabulous piece within it is Innovative Approaches in Rural Education compiled by Shirley Tuthill. This document shares dozens of books, organizations, journals, and websites through the following categories: general, curriculum design and teaching, distance learning, funding, partnerships, special needs, technology, journals, and organizations.
 A list of funding programs by United States Departments with website links.
 Also maintains a list of conferences of interest to rural areas including education and community development training opportunities.

Rural School and Community Trust
The Rural Trust is one of the more innovative organizations working on rural education and community life in the United States. It is a nonprofit “dedicated to enlarging student learning and improving community life by strengthening relationships between rural schools and communities and engaging students in place-based public work.” The Rural Trust pursues advocacy, research, and outreach activities to create a more favorable environment for rural schooling, for student work with a public audience and use, and for more active community participation in schooling. Founded as the Annenberg Rural Challenge in 1995, today the Rural Trust works with over 700 rural and small elementary and secondary schools in 35 states. Their website contains unique research, reports and newsletters including a state by state analysis of rural school characteristics and issues, a special report on children’s lives during the school bus ride and a publication on reducing the costs of maintaining and building small schools.

The Trust has regional staff called “Stewards” who support, guide and facilitate the Trust’s affiliated rural communities. Most of them have worked in rural communities for decades. The Stewards are listed on the website and are available to talk with anyone interested in the Trust’s work. Also listed are the national staff, policy staff and professional development staff.

Besides their main work with rural communities on innovative learning such as “place based” experiences, The Rural Trust has two other key efforts:

The Policy Program works to clarify issues affecting rural school and communities to inform the debate surrounding rural education policy, and to help rural communities respond to policy affecting them.

The Rural Education Finance Center is dedicated to improving educational opportunity for rural children by reducing inequities in state school finance systems, strengthening the fiscal practices of rural schools, and ensuring the adequacy of funding to rural schools. Helps rural people meet challenges by building civic capacity, supporting good research, promoting good fiscal management, providing legal support, and monitoring and reporting on policy.
http://www.ruraledu.org/

Search Institute
The Search Institute is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization “whose mission is to advance the well-being of adolescents and children by generating knowledge and promoting its application.“ The Institute provides research findings, conducts surveys, provides training and sponsors conferences, and networks organizations, At the heart of their work “is the framework of 40 developmental assets, which are positive experiences, relationships, opportunities and personal qualities that young people need to group up healthy, caring and responsible.” The assets are divided into “external” categories (support, empowerment, boundaries/expectations, time us) and “internal” categories (commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, positive identity). They are also listed by age levels: infants, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary, and adolescents. Spreading across the country, the assets are influencing school curriculum and character development activities, non-profit youth organizations’ daily work with kids, and goal setting and outcome measurements for community partnerships addressing youth issues.
http://www.search-institute.org/

Special Highly Recommended Section: Sites on Kids

At The Table
A great website for young and old to explore what young people across the country and world are doing. At The Table encourages the national movement of young people sitting “at the table” to help make decisions that affect them and their communities. Hosted by the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development, At The Table works with a variety of partners, gathers information about youth involvement and decision making roles, shares stories and best practices and has a great link page to some really cool websites (39 links) including Taking It Global, Teen Trust Webpage, The Forum for Youth Investment, Wire Tap Magazine, Youth As Resources, You can also explore the advocates page, join discussions, and complete surveys and polls.
http://www.atthetable.org/

Connect for Kids
This award winning multimedia project sponsored by the Benton Foundation helps communities make better services for families and children by collecting meaningful information, success stories and action ideas. The website covers over 30 topics from youth development to out-of-school time to early childcare to welfare reform to health. It has an incredible linking service to 1,000 other sites and to 1,500 service and advocacy organizations including state specific resources. Check out the newsletters and monthly bulletins for articles, profiles and interviews.
http://www.connectforkids.org/

4-H
Historically the premiere rural youth initiative, 4-H continues to be a powerful youth ally in rural and urban settings. Focused on volunteerism, experiential projects and a priority on “place”, 4-H works to ensure that young people reach their fullest potential. The website provides opportunities for youth to chat with others across the country, provides event news, awards and contests. Also, it provides extensive links and curriculum samples for hands on learning.
http://www.4-h.org/

Freechild Project
For youth seeking to play a larger role in their schools and communities, this nonprofit provides training, resources, and advocacy information to get them started. Founded by young people, Freechild’s directory connects to a wide variety of topics including student-led education reform, youth rights, community involvement, juvenile justices, etc. They provide downloadable bibliographies, and youth advice on effective avenues to influence and change what happens within their home community.
http://www.freechild.org/

What Kids Can Do
One of the most innovative resources and fun to use, What Kids Can Do shares the latest and hottest news from around the country on kid action. WKCD collects and shares feature stories, student work and voices, research and resources that expand current views of what constitutes challenging learning and achievement, particularly for adolescents. The website features student work, video and audio clips, teaching materials articles and many other resources both in rural and urban settings. The resource page is a MUST to utilize.
http://www.whatkidscando.org/

Youth as Resources
One of the older efforts across the country, YAR focuses on the concept that young people can lead and give in their communities with 80 YAR programs in 22 states and international. Over 300,000 young people have been involved in fundraising and community service activities. Local programs are managed by a youth/adult board and provide grant monies to young people designing and implementing service initiatives.
http://www.yar.org/

Contemporary Issues in Mentoring
Written by Jean Baldwin Grossman; published by Public/Private Ventures, 1999. This study answers questions about mentoring programs: What are the essential elements of an effective mentoring program? How do you identify and document a quality mentoring program? How much does mentoring cost? Where do you find volunteers? (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.ppv.org/indexfiles/pubsindex.html

Foxfire Fund
The Foxfire Fund shares resources to “teach, model, and refine an active, learner-centered approach to education which is academically sound and promotes continuous interactions between students and their communities so that students will find fulfillment as creative, productive citizens.”
http://www.foxfire.org/

The Guide on the Side
Compiled by William Belsey, 2000. This website provides a comprehensive selection of project-based learning resources. The menu is in a drop-down, easy to use format with categories for articles, academic references, awards and contests, books, related sites, educational reform, professional development, project directories, organizations and websites. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.iearn-canada.org/guideontheside.html

Lone Eagle Consulting
Specializes in rural, remote, and indigenous Internet instruction. The Lone Eagle hosts two online courses for educators and offers educational and culturally related resources. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.lone-eagles.com/

Mentor Handbook for Career Academies
Developed by the Career Academy Support Network at the University of California at Berkeley, this 89-page document has extensive sections on the roles and tasks of the mentor program coordinators and mentors themselves, with a 30-page “treasure chest” of ideas, activities, invitations, and forms for use in administering mentoring programs. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://casn.berkeley.edu/

National Mentoring Partnership
The other premiere mentoring website providing “resources and tools mentoring organizations need to effectively serve young people in their communities.” This website offers a membership service and specific information for young people and individual adults wanting to learn about mentoring. This user-friendly website gives you all the information you need to start and operate a mentoring effort, extensive training materials and publications including marketing tools such as posters. It also provides links to partners and other resources, gives legislative and policy updates via your email and connects you to state mentoring efforts (see The Mentoring Center in highly recommended for the other premiere site).
http://www.mentoring.org/

National Service Learning Clearinghouse
This site provides information about all levels of service-learning, kindergarten through higher education, including community-based initiatives. The site has an impressive publication list, many free, with short descriptions and direct links to relevant sites. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.nicsl.coled.umn.edu/

A Teacher’s Guide to Project-Based Learning
Written by Douglas Fleming, 2000. This is an introduction to the ideas and methods of project-based learning. It is helpful as a starting point and resource guide, with 13 different types of projects, a step-by-step planning guide, an annotated list of references and resources, and project descriptions and comments from teachers using project-based learning. $16. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
www.ael.org/pnp/browse/pbl2000.htm

Thriving Together: Connecting Rural School Improvement and Community Development
Written by Martha Boethel, this guide shares information and tools to start school-community development efforts, including worksheets and a resource section. Emphasis is on service learning, entrepreneurial education, and schools as community centers utilizing revitalization strategies. Available in English and Spanish and CD Rom.
http://www.goal.ncrel.org/rural/pub.asp?PubID=1043

Project Based Learning Handbook (PBL Handbook)
Published by the Buck Institute for Education, 1999. This guide was designed to prepare and support teachers unfamiliar with project - based learning as they plan and implement their first projects. The easy-to-understand format walks readers through the basic information, from background through final assessment. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.bie.org/pbl/hand.html

REAL Enterprises
REAL Enterprises develops entrepreneurial talent (primarily in rural America) by providing curriculum and training for teachers (K-16), supporting a network of educators and member organizations, and advocating for effective entrepreneurship education nationwide.
http://www.realenterprises.org/

Schools and Libraries Corporation
The “E-rate” is an FCC-implemented program providing schools and libraries with discounted access to high speed data and distance learning connections. While there are many sources for information about the “E-rate,” the Schools and Libraries Corporation is the first place to go with your questions.
http://www.slcfund.org

YouthTree USA
YouthTree seeks “to provide the most comprehensive Internet directory of programs, services and resources promoting the healthy development of youth and families” through affordable means electronically and encourages networking and information sharing. It lists youth efforts by state or organizational name. In addition, YouthTree provides forums, a kids-only section, resources, newsletters, grant tips, partnership programs and a marketplace.
http://www.youthtreeusa.com/

YouthFriends of Kansas
An extremely effective organization that supports school based mentoring efforts with school districts supplying the know-how, materials and training for operating in over 30 school districts across the state. Not only does YouthFriends provide TA/Training to implement school-based mentoring, they also provide excellent marketing tools, a mentoring screening process, and help schools appoint and orient a district coordinator.
http://www.youthfriends.org

Special Section: Curriculum for Teachers, Facilitators and Young People

AskERIC Virtual Library
Best bets for lesson plans for high school teachers: Health (Family Life); Arts (Architecture); Language Arts (Journalism and Literature); Mathematics (Algebra, Geometry, Calculus); Social Studies (U.S. History, Government, Political Systems, Psychology & Current Events). Also, do your students need to know how to write a resume and complete a job application? Use AskERIC. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.ericir.syr.edu/

Big Chalk/ProQuest
Easy to use, searchable database for lesson plans, school reform, and student activities. Another big site. Every resource imaginable for a teacher. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.bigchalk.com/

Blue Web'n
The strength of this site is that it leads you, by topic, to 75 other hot web sites. For example, for Health teachers: Personal Trainers and Wellness; Promoting Better Health through Fitness; and The Real Scoop on Tobacco. More? Look at forensics, media law, and literary research. This is a Pacific Bell site that catalogues blue ribbon learning sites on the web. It's very easy to navigate, with a content table that connects you directly to your area of interest. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn

Curricular Resources and Networking Projects
Has particularly good access to state-by-state resources. This is the web site of the U.S. Department of Education. As such, it's more useful as a general resource than a curriculum resource. But it links to nearly everywhere. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.ed.gov/EdRes?EdCurric.html

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
This site lists all the education projects supported by more than 30 government agencies A federal government web site that makes teaching and learning resources from across the federal government available in one place. FREE relies on a search tool that displays the full text of each resource. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.ed.gov/free

Galaxy
Opens with a list of topics applicable to all careers, then links to a variety of subcategories. For example, agriculture will take you to fish farming in Nova Scotia. (CASN Top 75 Websites)
http://www.einet.net/galaxy.html

International Education and Resource Network
Examples of projects include clean water for Nicaragua, Balkans peace making, and a long list of Environmental Science projects. If you want your students to participate in a global affairs project, this is the site to search. This network links up schools in different countries (or states) for projects. All projects end with an exhibition or product. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.iearn.org/

LessonPlans.com
A prime example of what you will find on this site: A complete unit on the Renaissance for World History, including daily lesson plans. This site for lesson plans is easy to browse. Topics for high schoolers are well-described, and a detailed overview of each lesson or unit leads you in the right direction. (CASN Top 75).
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/

Lightspan Study Web
Huge list of resources on every topic. Great site for students as well as teachers. One big plus: All sites are rated for visual content. Loads very fast, easy to navigate, comprehensive resource for all subjects and careers. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.studyweb.com/

National Center on Education and Economy
Useful on this site are school-to-career materials, such as multimedia publications on performance standards and assessment, and student portfolios. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.ncee.org/

NCS NovaNet
Fee-based service. A virtual school on the web, with curriculum in every subject, including career and school to work. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.novanet.com/

Peace Corps – World Wise Schools
An inquiry-based education service that links classrooms to current Corp volunteers and provides lesson plans and materials about countries and cultures including videos, stories, statistics, maps, and letters. See the special feature on service learning that provides tools and resources to create and implement projects.
http://www.peacecorp.gov/

ThinkQuest
This site has topics on most everything of concern to students. Some notable ones: entrepreneurship, study skills, and values. ThinkQuest is mainly known for its collection of educational websites created by its student and teacher community. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.thinkquest.org/

WWW Virtual Library
Terrific compendium of well-organized, detailed information. For example, Law, Government, and Protective Services students will find a library of info on forensics. (CASN Top 75)
http://www.vlib.org/

Business Coalition for Education Reform
This coalition is made up of 13 national business-led organizations and 600 state and local business-education coalitions that coordinate their efforts to increase the academic achievement of students by promoting business involvement in education at the national, state and local levels. The partners leverage resources and expertise, build partnerships between states and communities, and provide technical assistance to a growing network of state and local coalitions. It is managed by the National Alliance of Business. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.bcer.org/

New Center for Collaborative Leadership
Is a nonprofit that works with educators, employers and communities on the practices of collaborating. The NCCL provides training, consulting, evaluations, and management services to efforts across the country. As a best practice center, NCCL researches to develop and assemble knowledge and tools to support collaborative processes. Is made up of a collaborative staff with board leadership experience, best practice know-how, systems reform training and leadership experience.
http://www.collaborativeleaders.org/

Education Partnerships: Strategies for Success
Written by Danielle Bringgs and published by WestEd, 2001. This brief booklet identifies the key components or conditions contributing to partnership success. These components fall into the following areas: shared mission, goals and objectives, organizational structure and governance, leadership, communication, budget resources and external funding, culture as it relates to both collaboration and professional development, and evaluation. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.wested.org/

The Intermediary Guidebook: Making and Managing Community Connections for Youth
Published by Jobs for the Future and New Ways to Work, 2001, revised. This guidebook is designed to strengthen local organizations that connect school, workplaces and community sources. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.intermediarynetwork.org/stwpubs.html

Public Education Network
Has a mission “to create systems of public education that result in high achievement for every child.” PEN is a national association of local education funds that focus on school reform in low-income communities across the country. On their website, you can learn about LEF partnerships from across the country, explore publications including newsletters, national polls, and special projects PEN manages such as the Library Power and Champions of Active Learning initiatives. They also have a section on policy initiatives with these categories: standards and accountability, teacher quality, schools and communities, and PEN projects.
http://www.publiceducation.org/

National Association of Partners in Education
One of the oldest national organizations working on partnerships between education and community organizations (30 years), NAPE offers training, resources, research, networking, and a membership service. The resource list has an extensive number of publications that are helpful including the following items: Seven State Partnership Development Process, Guidebook for Technology Partnerships, Developing High-Quality After-School Partnership Programs and lots of “how-to” manuals.
http://www.napehq.org/

National Network for Collaboration
Fosters collaboration among cooperative extension system educators, agency and organizational partners, youth and community leaders. A part of the Children, Youth and Families at Risk Initiative, NNCO has a great set of partnership publications that are downloadable from the website including a CD-Rom training program manual on collaboration.
http://crs.uvm.edu/nnco

School & Main Institute
SMI works works with communities around the country identify and engage partners in youth support systems. Offers training programs on the skills needed for strong collaboration, as well as tools and coaching for sustaining successful youth efforts. You can download helpful guides and other tools from School & Main's website.
http://www.schoolandmain.org

Center for Applied Rural Innovation
Is a team of professionals “who have developed some of the most community-driven and impact-oriented programs focusing on rural viability in the world.” While much of the work focuses on Nebraska initiatives, much could be learned from CARI’s efforts. They have an internet training program, a virtual cooperative development center and entrepreneurial programs.
http://www.cari.unl.edu/

Center for Rural Affairs
Committed to building rural communities that stand for social justice, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship. Encourages people to accept both personal and social responsibility for creating such communities. Engages in research, education, advocacy, and service work to further this vision of rural America. Publishes monthly newsletter, which cites resources and publications dealing with small schools, rural communities, small businesses and family farms and ranches. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.cfra.org/

Center for the Study of Rural America – Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Tracks the farm and rural economies. Provides in-depth objective analyses of economic and policy issues key to rural America’s future. Publishes monthly newsletter, The Main Street Economist, available online. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.kc.frb.org/RuralCenter/RuralMain.htm

Council of State Community Development Agencies /  National Rural Development Council
Dedicated to strengthening rural America through collaborative partnerships. Made up of representatives of federal departments/agencies, public interest groups, Native American tribes and other national organizations. Five components make up its strategic plan: increasing funding; marketing; increasing the number of state rural development councils; creating an information network; and assessing accomplishments. (Rural Education Directory) http://www.coscda.org/

National Center for Small Communities
A national, non-profit organization devoted exclusively to serving the leaders of America’s smaller communities. Provides small town decision makers with the tools to govern effectively and the skills to expand local economies, protect natural resources, and preserve community character. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.natat.org/

National Rural Development Partnership
Works to strengthen rural communities through collaboration partnerships among federal, state, local and tribal governments, as well as private for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Fosters communication, collaboration, and cooperation among organizations (including education) working to make a difference in rural America. Works in collaboration with State Rural Development Councils. Each state council, made up of partner organizations and volunteers, create their own mission, structure, operating guidelines and action plan. National website lists funds and where to apply, provides research, magazines and latest national news on rural development. (Rural Education Directory & SMI)
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nrdp
http://www.ksrdc.org/ (Kansas)
http://www.wyomingrural.org/ (Wyoming)

National Rural Funders Collaborative
Established in 2001, the NRFC is funding efforts that “reinvest in and revitalize rural American communities faced with persistent poverty.” The seven U.S. leading foundations plan to leverage $100 million during the next decade to “expand the human, technical and financial resources needed for measurable improvements in the quality of life for rural community and families.” The effort also seeks to encourage research and dialogue about rural communities and offers a featured commentary and newsletter on line.
http://www.nrfc.org/

Main Street Program at the National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Main Street Center “has been working with communities across the nation to revitalize their historic or traditional commercial areas.” Not only has it saved historical architecture it has become an effective economic development tool. The Center’s website shares the approach, highlights community stories, provides economic statistics, has tools for getting started and provides a network to join. Check out the link to Iowa’s Main Street effort with over 30 communities involved (www.state.ia.us/ided/crd/mainstreet)
http://www.nationaltrust.org/

Neighborhood Funders Group
A national network of grantmakers working to expand support for organizations that help low-income people improve their communities. The website shares upcoming events, newsletters, publications, resources working groups, and has a specific group called the Rural Funders Working Group. They have great publications – check out Collaboration and Partnership in Funding Rural Communities by Deborah Visser.
http://www.nfg.org/

Rural County Governance Center
The RCGC of the National Association of Counties shares model programs in five areas: economic development, healthcare, environmental Issues, telecommunications, and transportation and infrastructure. They also have an effective links pages including environmental management, building associations, smart growth entities and the U.S. government departments.
http://www.naco.org/programs/comm_dev/rural

Rural Development Leadership Network
Supports community-based development in poor, rural areas through hand-on projects, education, leadership development, and networking. Members comprise a community of rural development practitioners and learners, many of whom have earned master’s degrees while enrolled in the network. B.A. or Ph.D. options are available for rural development practitioners. Website contains information on Rural Women’s Network and Product Development, Technical Assistance Network, Land Project, Writing Retreat for Community Builders, Donors, and Sponsoring Organizations. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.ruraldevelopment.org/

Save the Children
Commonly known as an international organization, Save The Children is conducting significant work within the United States. Of high significance to rural communities is the America’s Forgotten Children effort. Save the Children releases information on the issues surrounding child poverty in rural America and implements a national initiative in rural and urban neighborhoods that supports out-of-school children and the nonprofit community organizations that serve them. Local support includes funding for planning, training and technical assistance, supervision and local resource development. Just out (2002) is an extensive report called America’s Forgotten Children: Child Poverty in Rural America.
http://www.savethechildren.org/

Sustainable Communities Network
This organization seeks to share techniques, innovative strategies, and community case studies along with a step by step walk-though on establishing “communities that are more environmentally sound, economically prosperous and socially equitable.” The Network offers a resource list, funding sources, guest column, guides and a library. The links section connects to a variety of very helpful and interesting organizations working on sustainability issues.
http://www.sustainable.org

Welfare Information Network
A clearinghouse for information, policy analysis and technical assistance on Welfare Reform that has the following categories: hot topics, reauthorization, events, resources, promising practices, human service tools, state plan summaries, and other clearinghouses. Also, there are very specific program and management related resources ranging from education and training to One Stops to rural issues to youth development. The link to rural issues has hundreds of resources to review.
http://www.welfareinfo.org/

Workforce 2020: Work and Workers for the 21st Century
Written by Richard Judy, Carol Damico, Carol D’Amico and Gary Geipel and published by Hudson Institute Publications, 1997. This book analyzes the trends shaping the economy and workforce, the demographic makeup of the workforce in 2000 and 2020, the effects of globalizations on the U.S. business and the American worker, the impact of rapid technological change, the “skills gap,” and the need for new models of education and training to prepare workers. $16.95 (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.amazon.com/

W.K. Kellogg Foundation
While the Kellogg Foundation funds all types of efforts, it has also supported rural initiatives across the county. Besides finding out about current funding priorities, the Foundation’s website has many publications and research available including a recent study called Perceptions of Rural America: Views from the U.S. Of particular note is the W. K. Kellogg Collection of Rural Community Development Resources that lists hundreds of resources in seven categories including community development, strategic planning, telecommunication/education, leadership development, economic development, land use/natural resources, and health care.
http://www.wkkf.org/ www.unl.edu/kellogg/main.html (rural resource collection)

Special Section: Funding Sources

Building Better Rural Places
A publication by the U.S. Department of Agriculture listing federal programs for sustainable agriculture, forestry, conservation and community development available on TOC and PDF files. Recently revised this publication shares all the federal funds available and details for applying.
http://www.attra.org/guide/index.htm

Conservation Grants Center
This is an incredible list of resources on conservation grants growing out of a private e-list and maintained by Jean Saffell. It has a section on funding for environmental education listing such things as Schoolyard Habitats, general resources, Captain Planet Foundation, and the Center for Environmental Education. Also see categories linking to Foundations, Fundraisng, Rural Community and Writing Proposals.
http://www.conservationgrants.com/

Early College High Schools
An initiative funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation along with three other major foundations to design 70 Early College High Schools – “small high schools from which students leave with a two-year Associates of Arts or with two years of college credit. The website shares research, partners, sponsors, an overview and details for applying for funds.
http://www.earlycolleges.org/

Education Funding News
From the Thompson Publishing Group, this is a free weekly publication on federal, corporate, and foundation funding opportunities in education. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.thompson.com/

Education World Education Grants
This site contains entries on a variety of topics, including grants, grant writing, and grant availability. Sites are listed with active links for easy access. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.education-world.com/

eSchool News Funding Center
The Center offers a daily source for up-to-the-minute grant programs, funding sources, and technology funding information. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.eschoolnews.com/funding

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
This site offers hundreds of education resources supported by agencies throughout the federal government. The easy-to-use subjects include curriculum majors and vocation education. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.ed.gov/free

FindIt
An online resource list of the foundations and other resources offering grant opportunities. The drop-down menu offers links to the sites listed, with such categories as government, foundations, and nonprofit groups. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.findit.org/

Foundation Center
The granddaddy of private foundation information, this site offers access to specific foundations from among 57,000 available web pages, with address and contact information, proposal guidelines, typical sizes and numbers of grants, foundation websites, specific sector searches, and subscription to the center’s monthly newsletter. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.fdncenter.org/

Grant Information Center
This site, provided by Revisions Grant Services, is an abbreviated list of grant sites with direct links and a one- or two-sentence description of each site. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.revisions-grants.com/

Grant Locators
Provided by Instructional Media Center, this is an abbreviated list of the often overlooked small grant opportunities available, with links to pertinent sites. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.vpl-imc.org/

Grant Seeker’s Budget Toolkit
Written by James M. Quick, James Aaron Quick, and Cheryl Carter New, January, 2001. The toolkit offers step-by-step guidance, insider tips, and everything needed to create the kinds of budgets and financial plans that win grants. Can be purchased for $31.96 through Amazon. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.amazon.com/

Kellogg Foundation Grants
This grants database is organized around the W.K. Foundations’ programming interests. An application and other publications are available from the foundation. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.wkkf.org/

Philanthropy News Digest & RFP Bulletin
These on-line newsletters are provided by the Foundation Center. Current grants, their requirements, and contact information are included. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.fdncenter.org/pnd

School Grants
This site provides resources for children, teachers/educators, and K-12 schools, plus a CD entitled “Let’s Write a grant,” describing the grant writing process. The site also offers more than 600,000 individual awards for college-funding opportunities. Users may subscribe on-site to the free, electronic bimonthly newsletter. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.schoolgrants.org

Western Governor’s Foundation
“Serves as the source of strategic seed capital for research projects in the key areas of information technology and governance, education, natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations, and state management.” The Foundation also offers the Teacher Legacy Scholarships to support educators obtaining their advance degree in Learning Technology, Math, Science, Reading and English as a Second Language.
http://www.westgov.org/

Buck Institute for Education
Dedicated to improving schools by advancing knowledge about teaching and learning, the Buck Institute provides evaluation services, and collaborates with school staff to develop innovative practices via project-based learning, problem-based economics, and school-to-work initiatives. The website offers handbooks, how-to guides, articles, research, a resource page, assessment techniques, conference listings and newsletters.
http://www.bie.org/

Center for Small/Rural Schools - University of Oklahoma
National Rural Education Association endorsed research center that uses a multifaceted approach to assist small and rural schools. Conducts workshops, training programs, surveys, and needs assessments. Delivers staff development programs to rural schools via satellite telecast or videotape. Holds the annual National Conference on Creating the Quality School.
http://tel.occe.ou.edu/cssrs.html

Connections
From the National Tech Prep Network. This monthly newsletter contains the latest Tech Prep news, with a focus on partnership building, curriculum, parental and community involvement, technology, work-based learning, and professional development. Articles from practitioners and legislative updates are included in each issue. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.cord.org/Lev2.cfm/129

Education Resource Organizations Directory
From the U.S. Department of Education. This directory allows users to identify and contact organizations that provide information and assistance on a broad range of education-related topics. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.ed.gov/

Homegrown Lessons: Innovative Programs Linking School and Work
Written by Edward Pauly, Hilary Kopp, Joshua Haimson and Hillary Koop; published by Jossey-Bass, March 1995. Through first hand stories and experiences, the authors show how educators overcame challenges to introduce a range of programs from career academies and to restructure vocational education to technical preparation and youth apprenticeships. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.amazon.com/

The Internet: A Tool for Career Planning
Written by JoAnna Harris-Bowlsbey, Margaret Riley Dikel, and James P Sampson, 1998. This document describes the use of websites in career planning, with annotations of websites that counselors can use and models for integrating the use of websites into career-planning programs. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.ncda.org/

Mountain Plains Regional Resource Center – Utah State University
Helps states improve special education and related services by training state staff and by providing technical assistance tailored to each state’s program development needs. Through the state departments of education, regional resource centers work with other state and local agencies to provide special education services to infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families. Funded by the U.S. department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.usu.edu/mprrc

National Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform / George Washington University
Collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on comprehensive school reform in educational institutions that serve the K-12 population, including public schools, public school districts, state education agencies, and private schools in the United States. Provides reference and referral services, an annual report, and issues brief. In partnership with George Washington University, Council for Basic Education, and Institute for Educational Leadership. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.goodschool.gwu.edu/

National Research Center and National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education
Operated by a group of universities, the Centers “represent some of the national’s premier providers of career and technical instructor, administrator, and counselor education.” The website provides chats with experts, discussion group, promising programs, links, training information, surveys, projects, and publications. They also offer an incredible standards repository where standards information is listed by title, cluster, skill, academic and employability categories. For instance, there are 135 listings and links under the cluster category. There is a matrix of program standards by state and a listing of both Kansas and Wyoming standards. Definitely check out the links and publication sections.
http://www.nccte.org/

National Rural Education Association
Established in 1907, NREA is the oldest unified voice for rural education in America. Membership includes rural and small school teachers and administrators, university faculty, regional and intermediate service agencies personnel, and federal and state government administrators. Copublishes periodic reports and resource materials in cooperation with the ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education and Small Schools, OERI, and other agencies. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.nrea.net/

Rural Schools.org - Organizations Concerned About Rural Education
Explores ways in which the membership can organize comprehensive and cohesive policies and programs to address the needs of rural education, especially as it relates to a broader program for the improvement of rural economic development. Provides a forum in which member organizations can discuss the issues of rural education and development. A coalition of diverse organizations that care about rural education in America. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.ruralschools.org/

Preparing Students for the 21st Century
Written by Donna Uchida, Marvin Cetron, and Floretta McKenzie, American Association of School Administrators, 1996. This report is intended to stir discussion about the needs of today’s students and their schools. Chapters include what students must know to succeed in the twenty-first century, what schools can do to prepare students, and the roles of industry and community partners in this preparation. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.aasa.org/

Rebuilding America’s Schools
Supported by Organizations Concerned about Rural Education (OCRE), Rebuilding America’s Schools “is working for federal support to build, renovate and modernize school facilities.” This website describes the need, tells how to get involved, provides a media center, a place for stories, a resource section and list of partners. It contains information to support the rebuilding of rural schools. Includes a link to OCRE’s toolkit called Rebuilding America’s Schools” – a Toolkit for Organizing Your Community.
http://www.modernschools.org/

R*TEC Central – University of Kansas Center for Research, Inc.
Helps states, local educational agencies, teachers, school library and media personnel successfully integrate technologies into K-12 and also adult literacy centers. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, through its Office of Educational Research and improvement. (Rural Education Directory)
Email:jnazwort@scrtec.org

Rural Community College Initiative – MDC, Inc.
National demonstration project of community colleges in economically distressed regions. Supports aggressive and creative efforts to increase jobs, income, and access to education in rural communities. Aims to enhance the capacity of rural community colleges to provide economic leadership for their regions and serve as agents for community development. Helps reduce the isolation of rural colleges by building a national network of diverse colleges with common challenges. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.mdcinc.org/rcci

The Schools Our Children Deserve
Written by Alfie Kohn, 1999. Kohn argues against the demand for tougher standards saying it reflects a lack of understanding about how and why children learn. He urges educators to move beyond traditional classrooms and tougher standards while critiquing the heavy-handed, top-down, and test driven approach to school reform. $19.20. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.bn.com/

School-to-Work Intermediary Project
Is an effort “to strengthen and raise the profile of local organizations that connect schools, workplaces and other community resources to improve pathways for youth into postsecondary learning and careers.” This website shares the work of many communities across the country seeking to connect schools and community youth organizations with workplaces and resources to improve educational services to young people. They explain the role of an intermediary in the community and provide an extensive set of resources and ready to use materials to develop the intermediary process in a community, including site profiles, tools, case studies and issue briefs.
http://www.intermediarynetwork.org/

Southern Regional Education Board
Based in Atlanta, SREB has the largest high school reform network in the country. Called High Schools That Work, this standards-and data-driven approach supports the integration of career learning and academics. The site provides information on SREB’s many lines of work and publications including their middle school model. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.sreb.org/

Why We Need Small Schools
From Parent Power! October 1999. This article stresses the growing demand for smaller schools and options for parents to become involved. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.edreform.com/parentpower/issues.htm (category: the state of schools)

Center on Education and Work
The center’s purpose is to enable educators to engage youth and adults in learning and career development experiences that lead to meaningful careers. The site includes research and technical assistance activities to strengthen the connections among educational institutions, workplaces, communities and families. It also includes a comprehensive list of education-related sites with direct links. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.cew.wisc.edu/

Connecting Workplace Competencies with the Learning Standards
Published by the Massachusetts School-to-Work Office, 1999. This toolkit offers information for employers, educators, students, and parents. It show how to develop an effective work-based learning experience for both students and employers, with five self contained modules, a video, a CD-ROM containing reproducible content including a PowerPoint presentation, brochures that can be ordered separately, and a printout of overheads to copy onto transparencies/handouts. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.doe.mass.edu/stc/toolkit.html

An Employability Skills Training Curriculum
Published by the Professional Development Program, 1996. This site consists of curricula submitted by teachers from across the United State; it is described as SCANS compatible, most at the high school level. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.skillsusa.org/

Families and Work Institute
A non-profit research center with that supports connections among families, workplaces and communities. The website shares research, conference information, and publications. It gives detailed advice on starting community initiatives, and operates special efforts such as The Fatherhood Project and Salute to Educators. Teachers can submit online proposals for start-up funds to support projects about conflict resolution, diversity and overcoming fear.
http://www.familiesandwork.org/

Jobs for the Future
A national nonprofit focused on “creating strategies for Educational and Economic Opportunity,” JFF delivers a set of services including technical assistance, trainings and resource information. Most significant on their website is the expansive list of downloadable publications with dozens of toolkits, how-to manuals, research studies, benchmark strategies, and links for educators, employers, community non-profits and leaders, covering such topics as school-to-work, welfare reform, workforce development, youth programming and partnership strategies.
http://www.jff.org/

Job Shadowing, Internships and More Ways to Experience Careers
Published by the Indiana Career and Post Secondary Advancement Center (ICPAC), July 2000. These are brief descriptions of various career-exploration activities and ways to learn about and experience different careers. The descriptions may be used as classroom handouts on career exploration. They also include career profiles, tips on finding and getting a job, job outlook information, tips on discovering careers that fit the individual, working in high school, summer college enhancement programs, and skills that students will need for the workplace. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.icpac.indiana.edu/publications/infoseries/is-74.xml

National Youth Employment Coalition
A non-partisan national organization dedicated to promoting policies and initiatives that help young people succeed in becoming lifelong learners, productive workers and self-sufficient citizens, NYEC offers legislative information both federal and state, membership opportunities, training, conferences, newsletters, publications including toolkits, and a great list of links. Some of NYEC’s major projects include a New Leaders Academy, Indicators of Youth Economic Achievement and Capacity Building Initiatives. Most significant is the PEPNet effort – Promising and Effective Practices Network – established to “identify criteria for effectiveness, recognize excellence in youth employment/development programs and disseminate information on effective practice.”
http://www.nyec.org/

WAVE, Inc.
A 30 year old organization that focuses on “motivating youth to complete school, lead productive lives and make a valuable contribution to their communities.” Supporting teachers and youth development providers, WAVE uses methodologies that include training, an experiential curriculum, community service and on-site technical assistance. They offer adaptable programming strategies, and specific programs already utilized in 37 states and 700+ classrooms.
http://www.waveinc.com/

Workforce Investment Act Fact Sheets
Published by the Working for America Institute, AFL-CIO, 2000. These fact sheets focus on labor’s role in implementing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, including why the Workforce Investment Act is important to organized labor, organized labor’s opportunities and protections, youth councils, one-stop career center systems, and transition services. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.workingforamerica.org/documents/workforce.htm

Distance Learning Resource Network
Offers instructional modules, e-activities and courses in science, math, languages, workforce development and adult literacy. The website includes current research and news items, a library, a searchable database, online tools to design web-based courses, an 800# hotline, and online forums. Sponsored by the educational lab WestEd that has a designated focus on education assessment.
http://www.dlrn.org/

Edinformatics
From Education for the Information Age. This site offers a variety of resources for educators: databases on curriculum research, reform, professional development; current drop-down menus of subject area information; and state test updates. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.edinformatics.com/

Global Learning Partners, Inc.
Studies participative, problem posing approaches to adult learning and applies these approaches to enhance the skills of adult educators in industry, government, and the nonprofit sector. Works with leaders of adult and community education programs, many of who work in rural areas. Develops and distributes books and training guides. Conducts workshops. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.globallearning.com/

National Rural Health Association
A nonprofit association of individual and organizational members who share a common interest in rural health and related areas of economic development and education. Provides leadership for improving the health of rural communities and health care of rural Americans through advocacy, communications, education, and research. Publishes a variety of publications and periodicals for rural practitioners, educators, researchers, and community leaders. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.nrharural.org/

Pew Center on the States
On their homepage click on Education to learn teacher salaries, per-pupil student spending, statewide gaps in per-pupil spending, and other useful education-related data by state. In addition, the site includes a roundup of top education stories in the news (updated daily) and great links to other education sites. You can also compare education-related data for up to four states at a time. The site also offers information on land use and growth, welfare and social policy, environment, crime and transportation.
http://www.stateline.org/

Rural Clearinghouse for Lifelong Education and Development
Is a “national effort to improve rural access to continuing education.” This website offers publications, lessons learned and over 100 resources on the Internet. The Clearinghouse also supports special projects such as a sociology telecourse called Rural Communities: Legacy and Change.
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~rcled/

Rural Education Technology Alliance
RETA is sponsored by leading technology companies seeking to work with rural education institutions to address the unique technology needs of rural schools. RETA aims to help implement strategies to improve rural education technology in rural areas and provides showcases of success. Their website contains a very effective resource list with links to websites including technology.
http://www.ruraleducation.org/

Rural Policy Research Institute
The Rural Policy Research Institute’s website offers extensive links to other policy sites. View resources including Rural Health Care, Rural Telecommunications, Rural Welfare Reform, Rural Finance, Rural Development, Rural Housing, Rural Data Sources, Agriculture, and Rural Education.
http://www.rupri.org/

Stand Up for Rural America
Is “a national coalition initiative, involving 750 sponsors, dedicated to helping rural community developers gain the attention, resources and policy support their work deserves.” See the following reports to learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing rural America – Unharvested Bounty and A Place in the Country.
http://www.ruralamerica.org/

Transportation Toolbox for Rural Areas and Small Communities
Designed to “assist public and private stakeholders in planning, developing and improving rural areas and small communities, especially through transportation and related projects.” A work in progress, this document helps communities think through transportation objectives, outcomes and funding scenarios. Within the Department of Agriculture website.
http://ntl.bts.gov/ruraltransport/toolbox/index.html

Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation
“A nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy research organization dedicated to learning what works to improve the well-being of low-income people.” MDRC has been working in the social policy field for 25 years and researches and provides publications on issues ranging from welfare reform to adult education to effective program operations. The website provides an extensive list of publications, education reports and news, and best practices. Pay special attention to The Next Generation, a collaboration between MDRC and university-based researchers aimed at understanding how welfare and employment policies affect low-income children and families.
http://www.mdrc.org/

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
This website allows you access to a database of all Federal programs. If you enter in “rural,” more than 170 entrées are listed. The Catalog shares a detailed description of each federal agency or grant listing objectives, types of assistance, uses and restrictions, eligibility requirements, application and award processes, program criteria, reporting, financial information, contacts, and related programs. It also features categories and information for first time users, including writing proposals, the top 10% program list, a historical index and helpful links.
http://www.cfda.gov/

FirstGov
The federal government’s web directory. FirstGov provides a searchable interface for all of the federal government’s websites and provides state and local government links as well.
http://firstgov.gov/

Economic Research Service USDA
This website provides research reports, key topics, briefing rooms, publications and data about economic issues in rural America. Topics covered include farming, rural development infrastructure, housing, poverty, industry and population. There are three different magazines offered with email updates.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/

National Resources for Rural Schools
Operated by the National Center for Education Statistics in the Department of Education, this website has two sections. The first accesses recent data, periodic studies and tabulations on rural schools, and the second section provides resources available through selected contractors and grantees of the U.S. Department of Education.
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/ruraled/

Regional Rural Development Centers
The Centers “believe that small towns and rural places are the basic building blocks of rural society, and, in the context of a global society, they are becoming increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, resulting in an ever increasing number of public issues needing resolution.” The Centers work to increase the skill and knowledge level of rural citizens in the areas of economics, education, natural resources, community self reliance, policy development and education. Each Center is operated as collaboration between the United States Department of Agriculture and a host institution operating the Extension Services in the region.

North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Iowa State University – For Kansas
http://www.ncrcrd.iastate.edu/

Western Rural Development Center
Utah State University – For Wyoming
http://www.ext.usu.edu/WRDC

United States Department of Agriculture
The USDA website has very helpful information on rural development, workforce development and education issues. Of particular interest is the Rural Development section with the Rural Business-Cooperative Service, the Office of Community Development (includes REAP) and others. There is a special section for kids called USDA for Kids with over 25 subjects to explore including backyard conservation, natural inquirer, nutrition, kids science, 4-H, and our friend Smokey the Bear. The Kids section also has a great link page that connects to all the other governmental web pages for kids. Of course, the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service are in the USDA at http://www.reeusda.gov/
http://www.usda.gov/

United States Department of Education
Although there is much to look at it really is worth looking on a regular basis at the Ed website and exploring all the departments and offerings. Pay particular attention to the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, The Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and the Office of Postsecondary Education – all with their own websites.Lookfor the online subscription to EdInfo, an education newsletter that delivers two to three messages per week from the U.S. Department of Education. Each message features one report or initiative plus a summary, an excerpt, and information about where you can find more information about such topics as challenge grants, awards, and student guides to financial aid, budget updates, and research statistics. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.ed.gov/

United States Department of Labor
As with the DOE, this is a big website but definitely worth spending some time looking at current initiatives and community and youth resources. It is actually easy to use and the youth programs are under the Employment and Training Administration. There’s a special section called Youth Rules! Sharing all the information about youth employment, training materials, statistics and the regulations. Check out the new website called promisng-practices.org exploring effective efforts in rural communities (soon to be up in 2002). Workforce Investment Act information can be found at usworkfoce.org.
http://www.dol.gov/

America’s Promise: The Alliance for Youth
Association for Career and Technical Education
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Boys Scouts of America
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Camp Fire USA
Center for Education Reform
Children’s Defense Fund
Child Welfare League of America
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Communities in Schools
Early Education Clearinghouse
Girl Scouts of America
Girls Incorporated
HandsNet
High Schools That Work
Idealist
Junior Achievement
Kids Count Data Book
MentorGirls
National Academy Foundation
National Alliance for Hispanic Health
National Center for Children in Poverty
National Crime Prevention Council
National Dropout Prevention Center
National Mental Health Association
National Network for Youth
National Skills Standard Board
National Society for Experiential Education
National Future Farmers of America
New American High Schools
Points of Light Foundation
Public/Private Ventures
Reading is Fundamental
Salvation Army
United Way of America
U.S. Charter Schools
YouthBuild USA
YMCA
Youth Crime Watch of America
YWCA
Zero to Three

Awash in a Sea of Standards
Written by Robert J. Marzano and John S. Kendall, 1998. This guide offers a multitude of information on standards; implementation guides, technical studies, record keeping, accountability, assessment, and related links. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.mcrel.org/products/standards/awash.asp

Benchmarks for Success in High School Education: Putting Data to Work in School-to-Career
Written by Susan Goldberger, Robert Keough, and Cheryl Almeida, 2000. This book describes in detail the process for holding accountable all the players involved in establishing community –connected learning. A whole-school reform strategy includes business and community partners, postsecondary partners, and school districts. The book also describes the experiences of school districts implementing and evaluating community-connected learning. By tying real-world performance measures to each stage of implementation, benchmarking provides concrete steps for which all participants can be held accountable. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.lab.brown.edu/public/pubs/benchmarks/benchmarks.pdf (pdf)

Children of the Land: Adversity and Success in Rural America. Studies on Successful Adolescent Development
Written by Elder, Jr., Conger, King, Matthews, Mekos, Russell and Shanahan, 2000. Reviewing the life experiences of Iowa children who grew up during the 1980’s farm crisis, this book focuses on successful adolescent development and its links to social resources of the families with ties to the land. Available from University of Chicago Press (773) 568-1550.

Collaborative Skills for Educators and Nonprofit Leaders
Written by Hank Rubin of the New Center for Collaborative Leadership, this book shares the basic know-how of forming and managing collaborative work. A new book by Rubin called Collaborative Leadership: Developing effective partnership in Communities and School is also available.
http://www.amazon.com/

Collaboration: What Makes It Work
By Paul Mattessich, Marta Murray-Close and Barbara Monsy of the Wilder Research Center this book outlines what makes a collaboration a success or failure. This second edition also includes The Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory.
http://www.wilder.org/pubs

Hardships in America: The Real Story of Working Families
By Boushey, Brocht, Gundersen, Bernsein, 2001. This report examines the cost of living in various communities in each state and determines “basic family budgets” for six family types in rural and urban settings, examining the hardships faced by families. (Economic Policy Institute)
http://www.epinet.org/

Is There a Public for Public Schools?
By David Mathews and Forrest David Mathews, July 1997 (Recommended by a rural education and community expert from the Rural School and Community Trust!)
http://www.amazon.com/

Local Schools of Thought: A Search for Purpose in Rural Education
By Webb, Shumway and Shute, 1996.
While the focus of changing education has been on method and strategy this book looks beyond improving technique to examining purposes and to the role that the individual teacher can play in making a difference.
http://www.ael.org/eric/rurabook.htm

Managing Change in Rural Schools: An Action Guide
By Horsley, Terry, Hergert, Loucks-Horsley, 1991. Connects the two lines of educational research and practice: what is known about educational change in general, and the unique qualities of rural and small schools. This guide describes a set of key components involved in implementing, maintaining and continuing change in rural schools.
http://www.wested.org/cs/wew/view/rs/128

Partnerships in Communities: Reweaving the Fabric of Rural America
By Jean Richardson and Mark Lapping, November 2000. From many years of experience across the country and abroad, the author knits together transferable lessons on rural community development - what works, what doesn’t, and how financial and human resources can most effectively be utilized. The concluding chapter draws the lessons together to offer new approaches for rural development.
http://www.amazon.com/

Rural Education and Training in the New Economy: The Myths of the Rural Skills Gap
Edited by Gibbs, Swaim, Teixeira, 1998. Debunks the theory that rural job training and education is inferior to that of urban areas and offers realistic information regarding the structures, strengths, and weaknesses of the current rural labor market. Iowa State Press (800) 862-6657.

Rural Schools – On the Road to Reform
Produced by EdTalk, this report describes the rural initiatives developed by the nation’s 10 Regional Educational Labs. It examines the strengths and challenges of rural schools and how the Labs’ initiatives supported the work of rural schools.
http://www.wested.org/cs/wew/view/rs/127

Sustainable Small Schools: A Handbook for Rural Communities
Edited by Howley and Eckman, 1997. This book helps the reader “understand the dilemmas facing rural schools in the context of rural education as a whole in the U.S. and to identify resources and organizations to improve and sustain small schools.” It addresses issues teachers and administrators face when working with community members, and the website includes an extensive resource chapter as well as tools for finding information.
http://www.ael.org/eric/rurabook.htm

Teaching the Commons: Place, Pride and the Renewal of Community
By Paul Theobald, June 1997. Shares how “historical developments such as the advent of consumer culture” have undermined the forging of community and instead bolstered our culture’s infatuation with the individual.
http://www.amazon.com/

Worlds Apart: Why Poverty Persists in Rural America
By listening to the stories of real people in remote rural communities, the author offers powerful insights into the dynamics of poverty, politics and change. Also, see Duncan’s collection: Rural Poverty in America.
http://www.amazon.com/

Journals and Newsletters

Education Journals and Newsletters Available on the Internet
This webpage links to journals and newsletters of relevance to education. Users may download content pages, select the full text of articles, or download whole issues of a specific journal or newsletter. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.scre.ac.uk/is/webjournals.html

Education Publications
From Business Publishers, Inc. This organization publishes 50 newsletters and other publications covering education, environment, construction, energy, health, safety, and human services for levels K-12. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.bpinews.com/price.htm

ERIC Digest
This website hosts more than 2,300 issues of the digest, with search options by topic of interest, and the list of topics is comprehensive. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests

The Future of Children
This David and Lucile Packard Foundation journal promotes effective policies and programs for children by providing the best available research. Current and past issues are posted on the website with summaries, and Issues and Idea Guides. Other online services include questions and responses in conversations with authors and editors, child statistic fact sheets, statistical information, an email newsletter, and the creation of a personalized “My Journal Library” to keep a visitor’s specific collection.
http://www.futureofchildren.org/

Harvard Education Letter
This bimonthly newsletter covers timely topics in depth from the perspectives of research and practice. Issues are available in full text or abstract format. (CASN/MDRC GC Guide)
http://www.edletter.org/

Journal of Research in Rural Education
Publishes results of educational research conducted in or relevant to rural settings three times a year. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.ume.maine.edu/cofed/research/jrre

Youth Today
Providing the latest information on youth issues and the youth movement, Youth Today is published ten times a year by the nonprofit American Youth Work Center. They cover issues such as youth development, juvenile justices, adolescent health, parenting and changes in the field. Editorials and opinions are shared by some of the leading movers and shakers in the youth world. The website offers the full text of the current issue and archives previous articles. It provides links to grant opportunities, workshops and other youth initiatives.
http://www.youthtoday.org/

Rural America
Reports the results of new rural research. Explains the meaning and application of research in rural banking, demography, industry, labor force, and poverty. Includes Rural Updates, snapshots of trends affecting rural communities. Also contains previous magazines Rural Conditions and Trends and Rural Development Perspectives. (Rural Education Directory)
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ruralamerica

Additional Publications to Check Out

Bread Loaf: Rural Teacher Network Magazine
Journal of Research in Rural Education
Journal of Rural Community Psychology
National Rural Education News
The Rural Educator
Rural Sociology
Rural Special Education Quarterly

• Low population density – fewer people living in larger spaces
• People are more accountable for behavior because they lack the anonymity of urban dwellers (rural folks know each other)
• Adverse weather and geography may typify some rural areas
• Department of Education and Bureau of Census consider:

o A rural area is less than 2,500 people
o A small town is a place not within a metro area with a population less than 25,000, but greater or equal to 2,500

For most of us in rural communities, this information reflects what we know of our rural homes: the sense of community, the beauty of and connection to the land, animals and resources, the culture of our towns, schools, gathering places and businesses, and the country pace - whatever that might be - of day to day life. And most of us these days are talking about the development of our assets in rural areas.

The Rural Resource Guide is meant to support your work in determining the strengths of your rural area and to help identify where you can find information, training, a new partner in your work, and perhaps someone to guide you in creating new assets or refining old ones.

We hope the Guide is beneficial and love to hear your feedback or suggestions.

The Rural Resource Guide is sponsored through the Kansas School-to-Careers Office and the Wyoming School-to-Careers Office. The STC offices received a joint grant from the National School to Work office to provide technical assistance for rural communities in each state. The services were two-fold: a Rural Training Institute held in Denver, Colorado on April 16 & 17, 2002, and the creation of this guide. School & Main Institute, Inc. provided the facilitation for the Rural Training Institute and compiled Guide.

Who Should Use the Guide?

The Guide offers a wide variety of resources that many people and organizations in rural communities will find helpfu: PK-Adult education staff, businesses, Chambers of Commerce, non-profit and community based organizations, government agencies, civic groups, parents, young people and volunteers in your rural community.

Where Can We Get Copies of the Guide So We Can Share It With Others?

There are several ways you can obtain the guide. There are a limited number of hard copies available from the School-to-Careers offices in Kansas and Wyoming. In addition to the list of sites and resources, the print version includes all of the materials used during The Rural Training Institute. You can also download a copy of the guide here.

The Rural Resource Guide was sponsored by:

The Kansas School to Careers Office
Kansas Department of Commerce & Housing
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 100
Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-0908
Website: http://www.kansascommerce.com
On the main page, click on grants, click on school-to-careers, click on documents and forms.

The Wyoming School to Careers Office
3120 Old Faithful Road, Suite 300
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
(307) 777-7654
Website: http://www.wyomingcommunitynetwork.com

Compiled By
School & Main Institute - Denver Office
2210 Williams Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
(303) 860-1012
Website: http://www.schoolandmain.org. Go to Tools to find the Rurual Resource Guide

Quite a few other resource guides were very useful in developing this Guide. The organizations that developed the materials were very gracious in giving permission to use their written descriptions of resources. For each resource “borrowed” from an existing guide or list, we list the source in parentheses at the end of the description. Listed below are these organizations and their resource credit abbreviation you will find throughout the document. These organizations are included as resources in the Guide and you will find their materials and services supportive in your endeavors.

Getting Connected – A Resource Guide for Career Academies, January 2002
Source: Career Academy Support Network (CASN) and
Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC)
Found at: http://www.casn.berkeley.edu/ and http://www.mdrc.org/
Resource credit (CASN/MDRC Getting Connected Guide)

Teaching and Learning Resources for Career Academies: The Top 75 Web Sites
Source: Career Academy Support Network (CASN)
Found at: http://www.casn.berkeley.edu/
Resource credit: (CASN Top 75 Websites)

The Rural Education Directory
Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Rural Education & Small Schools
The Regional Educational Laboratory at AEL
The National Rural Education Association
Found at: www.ael.org/eric/ruraled
Resource credit: (The Rural Education Directory)

The guide’s content priorities were targeted at The Rural Training Institute and also through a series of conversations with rural stakeholders in Kansas and Wyoming. The Kansas and Wyoming School-to-Careers Offices and School & Main Institute would like to thank many Kansas, Wyoming and national people for their comments, questions, ideas and time including:

Wyoming: Steve Achter, Pam Clark, Joe Coyne, Toni Decklever, Thomas Johnson, Jennifer Jones, Mary Randolph, Peggy Turbiville, the Wyoming Workforce Development Council and the Wyoming State Youth Council

Kansas: Maureen Toll and Cathy Wutke

National: Gene Caso, Sylvia Parker, and Barbara Poore

And thank to all Rural Training Institute participants for your input.

School & Main staff who compiled the Guide -- Betsy Draper, Al McMahill and Jeff Wein -- also extend a special thank you to Grace Hayes and Shelly McDonald of the Kansas School-to-Careers office and to Lori Morrow of the Wyoming School-to-Careers office for their support, creativity and direction during this project.

A Friendly Disclaimer: While the organizers of this guide have targeted a set of resources in a highly recommended category for rural individuals and communities, a group’s inclusion in this directory or listing in this guide and on the state designated websites should not necessarily be interpreted as an endorsement of the group by the Kansas and Wyoming School to Careers offices and School & Main Institute, Inc.