Educating Students in Rural America: Capitalizing on Strengths, Overcoming Barriers

In 2004, NASBE released a State Education Standard focused on the issues and challenges facing rural schools. Ten years later, NASBE facilitated a study group on rural education to discuss what has changed and what new challenges require the attention of state education policymakers.

This report details the Rural Education Study Group’s recommendations for how state boards of education can address deficits, deploy existing assets, and enhance the capacity of rural areas to ensure all students are prepared for college, careers, and civic life.

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State Education Elections in 2024 Yield Few Shifts

Voters in nine states, three territories, and the District of Columbia elected 64 state board candidates.

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Technology in Education

Savvy state leaders will set their sights on ways to broaden access to technology’s benefits, solve problems confronting educators, and protect students against the risks of misuse.

Developing Content Standards: A Foundational Task for State Boards

State boards of education typically play a central role in approving academic content standards, though their authority varies by state. This boardsmanship review outlines guiding principles and common processes to help state boards develop high-quality standards.

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From the States

States Face Challenges Building a School Mental Health Workforce

Challenges persist in attracting and retaining this school-based mental health professionals, but some states, including Virginia, Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, and others, are making progress.
States Address Access to Menstrual Products in Schools

States such as Georgia, New York, Utah, and others have increasingly opted to combat “period poverty" by expanding access to free menstrual products in schools.