The National Rural Education Association's latest report, "Why Rural Matters 2023," finds Arkansas is a critical state - due mostly to funding for students and a shortage of teachers.

Nearly half of Arkansas public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than 147,000 students.

Allen Pratt is executive director of the National Rural Education Association. He said the teacher funding and pay issue has a big impact on rural districts in Arkansas.

It's imperative that the state be more creative and work with local universities and colleges to attract teachers.

"I know they're working on this with the Arkansas Department of Education," said Pratt, "looking at ways they can do apprenticeship programs, so they can get paraprofessionals, or folks from the community, to be quickly licensed and serve as teachers in those areas."

The report reveals Arkansas teachers make about $26,000 less than the average adjusted salary of rural teachers in other states.

Pratt said on a scale of one to 50, Arkansas's overall ranking is 12 - and the state is among the top 10 states needing urgent attention on both the household and school-level poverty measures.

Pratt pointed out that Arkansas ranks near the bottom ten for instructional spending per student.

The report reveals the Natural State spends $5,655 per pupil, and the national average stands significantly higher - at more than $7,100.

He added that rural schools and districts need policies and funding that fit their unique circumstances.

"You know, oftentimes those rural schools and school districts are kind of left behind," said Pratt, "in that sense of is this funding model, does it really benefit the metro areas, the suburban areas? Or is it going to have a piece that's going to help that rural community out?"

While the report shows there's room for improvement, Allen emphasized that there are some highlights for Arkansas.

The state ranks high for the overall educational outcomes at 26, which put them about midstream. He says eighth-grade math has a ranking of 35, and reading is 39 - which is really strong, and a positive.




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Maine educators are expanding outdoor learning opportunities to help build the next generation of environmental stewards.

The state has unveiled a new learning pavilion on Mackworth Island, where students can engage in hands-on outdoor lessons and study environmental careers.

Page Nichols, chief of the Office of Innovation for the Maine Department of Education, said students and teachers love it.

"We have such an incredible natural resource here in Maine that we feel it's important to use it," Nichols explained. "We get that feedback from educators who are providing it, feeling like this is really, really meaningful."

Nichols pointed out the state's Outdoor Learning Initiative has already connected more than 14,000 students to nature-based programs, from hiking the Appalachian Trail to studying ocean ecology. Research shows students often focus better when learning outdoors, while teachers report better student behavior and social interactions.

State officials said the goal is to ensure all Maine students have access to outdoor learning to improve their physical and mental health and help counter any pandemic-related learning loss. Data show a majority of eighth graders in the state are not proficient in math, while more than 70% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading.

Nichols emphasized outdoor learning is exciting for students and helps them better connect with their peers and environment.

"We believe that getting students outdoors and engaged with nature is innately empathy-building around the importance of protecting the environment," Nichols stressed. "That is a central focus of it."

Nichols noted educators are expanding the state's Environmental Literacy Plan to include more lessons on the growing effects of climate change. She added the state has already invested more than $11 million in the Outdoor Learning Initiative to expand opportunities for students in grades K-12.


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A new postelection survey found voters across the political spectrum said they support investing in public schools and teachers.

The findings from the Hunt Institute are at odds with the West Virginia Board of Education's recent decision to approve the closure or consolidation of six public schools, due to declining enrollment.

Bob Wise, the state's former governor, said parents continue to rely on schools for mental health resources.

"Parents understand that the mental health issues are still hanging out there," Wise observed. "They were there before; COVID only exacerbated them, and we've not seen a full recovery."

A majority of voters surveyed said they are in favor of ensuring students have access to high-quality teachers.

Wise added the data show parents and voters feel positive about their local community schools but are pessimistic overall about the country's current education system.

"The reality is most voters and parents, the survey respondents, think about education as being a critical issue at the state and local level," Wise emphasized.

Last year, more than half of parents and voters said their local public schools were doing a "good or excellent job," compared to 36% of parents and voters nationwide.

Wise pointed out 69% of survey respondents strongly favor increasing internships, apprenticeships and other job skills opportunities in high school. He stressed the message is clear voters are supportive of building a strong foundation for education and employment for young people.

"I think it's important that policymakers actually pay attention to what the voters are saying, as opposed to their perception of what is public opinion," Wise urged.

More than 245,000 students are enrolled in West Virginia public schools.


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Teachers' unions say they're at an impasse in bargaining with two Oregon school districts. After four intense mediation sessions, Albany teachers walked out of class for the first time in nearly 40 years, primarily over workload and class size limits. Similar concerns are being raised in Beaverton - where, after nine months of negotiations, the teachers union and district are headed to mediation. Beaverton teachers rallied with hundreds of supporters outside a school board meeting, while Albany teachers formed picket lines across the district.

Max Nazarian, Albany union vice president, said spirits are high.

"It was almost constant - cars honking, people waving - our community is behind us. They know who the people are that come in every day caring for their kids, and it's not those dozen people in the central office," he said.

Albany Superintendent Andy Gardner said the district has responded to all the union's requests, including offering a 15% raise over the next three years. He added it's more important to focus on behavior rather than class size, and that the district has proposed an improved process to handle larger classes.

Nazarian said hundreds of teachers have described being unable to give students the support they need, including those with state-mandated education plans, and that teachers feel powerless.

"It's still the end game is the same - that teachers don't really have a say," he continued.

In Beaverton, the state's third-largest district, teachers have collected nearly 5,000 signatures in support of changes similar to Albany: stronger safety measures, better pay and smaller class sizes.

Lindsay Ray, Beaverton Education Association president, said educators across the state are continually asked to do more with less, and added that the solidarity between districts is empowering.

"It's heartening to have other folks who are working for those same things kind of all over the state, because I think that leads to a greater understanding from our communities about what we're doing and what we're working for," Ray said.

The Beaverton School District said the union's proposal would result in a $161 million deficit, while the district's offer would mean a $29 million deficit.


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