The Bloomsbury Handbook of Rural Education in the United States

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This handbook begins with a foundational overview of rural education, examining the ways in which definitions, histories, policies, and demographic changes influence rural schools. This foundational approach includes how corporatization, population changes, poverty, and the role of data affect everyday learning in rural schools. In following sections, the contributors consider how school closures, charter schools, and district governance influence decision making in rural schooling, while also examining the influence of these structures on higher education attainment, rural school partnerships, and school leadership. They explore curriculum studies in rural education, including place-based and trauma-informed pedagogies, rural literacies, rural stereotype threat, and achievement. Finally, they engage with issues of identity and equity in rural schools by providing an overview of the literature related to diverse populations in rural places, including Indigenous, Black, and Latinx communities, and exceptional learners. Importantly, this handbook applies theoretical tools to rural classroom experiences, demonstrating the potential of work centered at the intersection of theory, rurality, and classroom practice. Each section concludes with a response by an international scholar, situating the topics covered within the broader global context.

Reviews

This Handbook constitutes a significant landmark in rural education studies globally. The individual chapters represent an appropriate blend of rigorous research and practical strategies, and the Handbook as a whole engages with important hot topics in understanding and valuing rural schools. * Patrick Danaher, Professor of Educational Research, University of Southern Queensland, Australia *
This Handbook is a rich and engaging collection of scholarly works on rural education in the USA. It provides an outstanding but accessible representation of current and emerging trends. A much-needed book which is highly recommended to all. * Laurence Lasselle, Senior Lecturer in the School of Management, University of St Andrews, UK *
With the publication of this Handbook, rural education has just been remembered and reimagined. The editors have selected seasoned contributors who bring historical perspective on rural life and curriculum, as well the racially and culturally diverse voices needed to lead relevant conversations today. A remarkable achievement. * David A. Greenwood, Professor of Education, Lakehead University, Canada *
This superb Handbook tackles the multiple spectra of the field of rural education. Through clear argument, telling examples, and some brutal imagery, every chapter unsettles deep-seated, often metro-centric, assumptions of rurality. Be prepared to reconstruct your understanding of rural education, not only in the US but across the globe. * Linda Hargreaves, Reader Emerita in Classroom Learning and Pedagogy, University of Cambridge, UK *
Once a low status field, rural education is now at the heart of the quest for equity, identity, and democracy in America. If you care about the future of rural schools and communities, and about education in America, you will treat this comprehensive Handbook by the fields leading scholars as a priceless resource. * Andy Hargreaves, Research Professor in Education, Boston College, USA *

Author Bio

Amy Price Azano is Associate Professor in the School of Education at Virginia Tech, USA, and co-editor of The Rural Educator. Karen Eppley is Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University, USA, and editor of the Journal of Research in Rural Education. Catharine Biddle is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Maine, USA, and co-editor of The Rural Educator.