More than three-fourths of a group of education leaders say federal policies were designed primarily for urban and suburban districts and often are poorly suited to rural ones.
That’s one of the results in last month’s “Education Insider,” a monthly report by the policy-oriented consulting group Whiteboard Advisors.
Most respondents didn’t think rural education was a priority for the U.S. Department of Education. It scored 4 on a 1-to-10 scale. The Individuals with Disabilities Act was deemed the most burdensome of federal policies for rural districts, and providing more funding flexibility came out on top of the actions the government could take to improve education for rural students.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon, accompanied by Attorney General Pam Bondi, right, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The pair were announcing a lawsuit against the state of Maine over state policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports.
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