Decision points and considerations for identifying rural districts that have closed student achievement gaps

Title:	Decision points and considerations for identifying rural districts that have closed student achievement gaps
Description:	Rural districts have long faced challenges in closing the achievement gap between high-poverty students and their more affluent peers. This research brief outlines key decision points and considerations for state and district decisionmakers who wish to identify rural districts that have closed academic achievement gaps. Examining these districts’ experiences with organizational and instructional policies and practices may suggest activities associated with making achievement gains and narrowing achievement gaps that can be systematically investigated. Key issues in the process are highlighted by examples from recent work with rural stakeholder groups in Colorado and Nebraska.
Online Availability:	Download, view and print the report as a pdf file. (168KB)
Cover Date:	April 2016
Web Release:	April 26, 2016
Print Release:	April 26, 2016
Publication #:	REL 2016130 General Ordering Information
Center/Program:	REL
Associated Centers:	NCEE
Authors:	Michael J. Culbertson and Shelley H. Billig: RMC Research Corporation
Type of Product:	Applied Research Methods
Keywords:	Achievement • achievement gap Evidence-Based Decisionmaking Rural Education
Questions:	For questions about the content of this Applied Research Methods, please contact: Amy Johnson.