Bits, pieces and links:
Good marks for RLIS program
The U.S. Department of Education’s final report on the Rural and Low-Income Schools program gave it good marks, saying rural schools that got money spent it to upgrade their computers, purchase educational software and technology, to provide professional development and to buy instructional materials,
Read the news release here.
Read the report itself here.
Technology Confab
Rural school administrators are expected in Washington, D.C., July 21 for the National Rural Education Technology Summit. Secretary Duncan and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution G. Wayne Clough will be on hand as experts share innovations and proven models for using technology to strengthen teaching and learning in rural schools.
Among the agenda highlights: a question and answer session with Karen Cator, director of education technology for the U.S. Department of Education; Nancy Proctor of the Smithsonian on mobile technology; and a Q&A on ESEA reauthorization with Carmel Martin, assistant secretary of the Department of Education.
“This is a great opportunity for school leaders and technology experts to learn from one another, and provide feedback to federal agencies,” said John White, deputy secretary for rural outreach, in an e-mail note inviting educators.
The confab will be at the Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW.
Hard Times Ahead
This doesn’t directly address local schools, but here’s an overview
of how declines in state and federal revenue during the economic downturn will affect budgets in rural communities. It comes from two economists for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and is chock full of data.