Potential Synergy: Rural School Districts and International Students

• In Event: Roundtable Session 59
  In Roundtable Session: Rural Education Miscellany

Abstract

Rural schools and communities are interconnected in many ways. Isolation, declining enrollments, and fiscal stress, paired with increasing pressure for higher levels of student achievement can leave rural school districts facing closure and consolidation. Nonetheless, a handful of rural districts across the country have found a creative response: international student programs. Whether these programs are established to meet fiscal, cultural, or academic needs differs among the communities. This study investigates a community using this strategy in order to understand the goals of the program and the resulting financial, academic, and social effects on the school, community, and students, both local and international. This work contributes to a better understanding of the potential synergy between schools and communities.

Authors

• Hope Casto, Skidmore College

• Alexandra Steinhauer, Skidmore College