Rhetoric or Change? The Role of State Policies and Conditions in Shaping Postsecondary Education Access and Success for Rural Students
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| Title: | Rhetoric or Change? The Role of State Policies and Conditions in Shaping Postsecondary Education Access and Success for Rural Students |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Darris R. Means, Jenay F. E. Willis, Kim Getfield, Devon Golden, Bryson Henriott, Brandon Lee, Alejandra Medina, Hannah Reilley, Lily K. Tunstall, Ying Zhou |
| Source: | Rural Educator. 2024 45(3):1-14. |
| Availability: | National Rural Education Association. e-mail: theruraleducator@gmail.com; Web site: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/ruraleducator/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Postsecondary Education Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | State Policy, Access to Education, Success, Rural Areas, Government Role, Regional Characteristics, Postsecondary Education, Outcomes of Education, School Holding Power, Graduation Rate, Elementary Secondary Education, Public Schools |
| Geographic Terms: | Georgia, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania |
| ISSN: | 0273-446X |
| Abstract: | Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, increasing attention has been paid to rural communities. For our study, we used a multicase study approach that included five states to study the difference between the rhetoric about the need to focus more attention on rural communities soon after the 2016 election and the practiced reality of state conditions (e.g., policies, practices, constraints) changing to support postsecondary education outcomes (e.g., enrollment, retention, and graduation) for rural students between 2017 and 2021. We collected and analyzed two forms of data for our study, legislative records and newspaper articles. We noted inequitable funding for rural K-12 education in several states. While some state policymakers responded to these inequities, their responses raised questions about the unintended consequences for some of the decisions. In addition, we found state policymakers and leaders have placed increased attention on postsecondary education enrollment and affordability, but we found limited evidence that attention was paid to rural students and rural-serving higher education institutions and to postsecondary education retention and graduation for rural students. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1440903 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, increasing attention has been paid to rural communities. For our study, we used a multicase study approach that included five states to study the difference between the rhetoric about the need to focus more attention on rural communities soon after the 2016 election and the practiced reality of state conditions (e.g., policies, practices, constraints) changing to support postsecondary education outcomes (e.g., enrollment, retention, and graduation) for rural students between 2017 and 2021. We collected and analyzed two forms of data for our study, legislative records and newspaper articles. We noted inequitable funding for rural K-12 education in several states. While some state policymakers responded to these inequities, their responses raised questions about the unintended consequences for some of the decisions. In addition, we found state policymakers and leaders have placed increased attention on postsecondary education enrollment and affordability, but we found limited evidence that attention was paid to rural students and rural-serving higher education institutions and to postsecondary education retention and graduation for rural students. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0273-446X |
