"Pulling Together" connects rural educators with high-quality online resources

Often isolated and sometimes overlooked at the expense of their students, rural schools for years have faced unique educational challenges.

Now, a new online resource from the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), called "Pulling Together: R&D Resources for Rural Schools," aims to assist rural educators in their uphill battle to provide a high-quality education for students in remote localities.

The web site features a new version of "The Rural Circumstance," a document confronting the challenges of rural America. Graphs and statistics have been updated with the latest information, and the text includes information about the No Child Left Behind Act as well as other significant barriers faced by rural schools.

Other resources include reports on effective classroom instruction, best practices for data-driven school improvement, and suggestions for teaching to a diverse student body, implementing effective school improvement plans, and upgrading technology.

Educators also will find a list of links to federal agencies and other organizations dedicated to improving rural school conditions.

http://www.ncrel.org/rural/dochome.htm