Critical Perspectives and Conceptualizations of Rurality and Demographic Change: Serving Minoritized Populations in Rural School-Communities

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This symposium brings together critical perspectives to conceptualize rurality and demographic change. The presenters explore the complexities and affordances of serving minoritized populations in rural school communities. Together, the four presentations illuminate educational research designed to respond to particular and pervasive issues in rural education settings, including racial and linguistic injustice, mental health access, family engagement, sense of belonging, and high-quality teacher preparation and retention. Each presentation in this symposium posits that rural schools can play an important role in dismantling the inequities that persist and stratify rural America. The panel will situate and interrogate the inequities that pervade rural education due to demographic change, and an educational research and policy apparatus that primarily focuses on suburban and urban settings.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Rural Education

Chair

• Jennifer Laura Seelig, NORC at the University of Chicago

Papers

• The New Demographics of Rural Education - Mara C. Tieken, Bates College

• Family-School Engagement to Support Rural Latinx English Learners - Rachel T. Santiago, University of Missouri

• Teachers' Perspectives Regarding English Learner Bilingual Latinx Students' Sense of Belonging in Rural Wisconsin - Diego Xavier Roman, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Lisa M. Barker, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Patrick Robinson, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Kaycee Rogers, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Cynthia T Baeza, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Claudia Triana, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Supporting Emergency-Licensed Special Educators in Rural Settings - Kimber L. Wilkerson, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Rebekka S Olsen, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Andrea Ruppar, University of Wisconsin - Madison; Melinda Leko, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Discussant

• Jennifer Laura Seelig, NORC at the University of Chicago