Rural Education and National Policy in 2018

• In Event: “All of a Sudden, Rural Is on Everyone’s Mind”: Rural Education After Trump

Abstract

As this proposal is being written, national policy is being debated that would have an impact on rural education. States are writing and submitting plans for the implementation of Every Student Succeeds Act which places a greater emphasis on rural education than has been seen in previous national education legislation (Brenner, 2016). Deep cuts to education funding have been proposed both in the president’s proposed budget and the House of Representatives proposed appropriations bills that may have a disproportionate impact on rural schools. The Perkins Career and Technical Education Act is being considered for reauthorization in ways that may impact rural education. Many superintendents worry that changes in health care policy, including the possible repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act and/or changes to Medicaid funding, will have an impact on rural education (e.g, student attendance, school nurse programs, etc.) (Grace, 2017; AASA 2017). Many policy decisions are being made without consideration or in opposition to research that might guide policy decision making and without an understanding of rural education contexts. Given the shifting nature of national education policy, the leader of this section will provide an overview of education policy issues relevant at the time of the AERA annual meeting, and invite participants to discuss current policy in light of rural education contexts.

Essential Questions: What national policy currently being debated will most impact the communities where you work? How do you engage with these issues in your scholarship?

Author

• Devon G. Brenner, Mississippi State University