Rural Schools Collaborative

06/16/2026

🚨 New Research Alert! 🚨

For his dissertation, Dr. Joshua Lovett examined how social and emotional learning (SEL) implementation differs across urban, suburban, and rural schools using a nationally representative sample of U.S. teachers. His newly published study found that teachers in rural schools reported lower rates of SEL program use, less SEL–academic integration, fewer institutional supports, and greater resource-related barriers than teachers in urban and suburban schools. His work highlights the importance of moving beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to SEL and investing in the infrastructure, funding, professional development, and district-level supports needed to strengthen SEL capacity in rural schools.

Read the full open access article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sel.2026.100203

06/15/2026

Rural Schools Collaborative’s 2026 Rural Education Summit would not be possible without generous support from ECMC Foundation, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Compeer Financial and The Madison Club. We left Madison, WI feeling inspired after convening with partners and friends. Thank you for being part of 🎉👏💛

06/12/2026

That's a wrap Madison, WI!

We can't thank our partners and friends enough who traveled near and far to be with us this week for RSC's Rural Education Summit. We are so appreciative! 💛

06/11/2026

For Emma King and Amelia Woollard, teaching in rural Ohio is a calling to serve the community in which they were raised. Both completed their teacher training through RSC's Ohio Hubs, Ohio University Eastern and BB2C - Building Bridges to Careers while building hands-on experience in rural school settings that reflect their values, identities, and long-term commitment to education. Emma King and Amelia Woollard are proof of a central truth: rural education is built on connection. 🥰

Read Emma and Amelia's full I Am A Rural Teacher story: https://iamaruralteacher.org/stories/i-am-a-rural-teacher-emma-king-amelia-woollard-appalachian-ohio

06/11/2026

RSC is taking on WI! 👏

The Rural Education Summit kicked off yesterday with a full board meeting, a Community of Learners session and a welcome reception for RSC Hub partners, rural teachers and friends. This group set the bar high for a full day of convening today!

06/09/2026

RSC had a wonderful time celebrating our 2026 Grants in Place awardees last Friday! Grantees from around the country came together on the live virtual event to present their incredible Place-Based Education projects to RSC Hubs, friends and guests. 🎉 👏 🙌

Take a look at the awardees posters here to learn more about their projects! 👉

Padlet will be our platform to share the highlights, outcomes, and stories from your project.

06/05/2026

𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤+ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵

Hear from some of our friends and scholars at the Virginia Tech Center for Rural Education, Clint Whitten, Josh Thompson, and Amy Price Azano:

➡️ Q***rly Rural, Rurally Q***r: An Autoethnographic Literary Analysis of Hillbilly Q***r https://journals.shareok.org/studyandsc.../article/view/1161

➡️ Rural Education and Q***r Identities: Rural and (Out) Rooted - A book exploring the facets and intersections of rural education and Q***r identities https://www.routledge.com/.../Whi.../p/book/9781032868240..

06/04/2026

Join us TOMORROW Friday, June 5 as we hear from and celebrate our 2026 Grants in Place awardees! 🎉

Their incredible Place-Based Education projects created learning opportunities for their rural students and communities across the country. We hope you will join us!

Register for the virtual event at the link and share with a friend who may be interested.

🔗 https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/lKB_U4ppRzybF6oq_Yzhqw #/registration

06/03/2026

Western Pike Local Schools in Latham, OH is home to 2026 Grants in Place grantee, Jennifer Buckler. Not only is she leading her students on their cut flower project, but she also organized their 3rd annual STEAM Career & Community Connected day. Check out this amazing video highlighting their event. 💛
https://www.facebook.com/reel/26185177794489238

06/03/2026

Students across the national rural GRAD Partnership cohort share what connection, community, and support mean to them. ⬇️

School leaders at rural schools across the country asked their students to answer a simple question: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺, 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶? Students submitted answers in a myriad of ways: essays and poems, drawings and paintings, and digital media. The responses may have taken many forms, but between peers, trusted adults in the building, and a feeling of empowerment emerged as trends throughout the project. 💪 🧑‍🎓 💛

Check out the full project story on our website:

Students across the national rural GRAD Partnership cohort share what connection, community, and support mean to them