EMPOWERING RURAL SCHOOLS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AT-RISK STUDENTS THROUGH AN INTEGRATED, COMPUTER-BASED CURRICULUM

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A QUALITY EDUCATION. BUT, RURAL EDUCATORS NATIONWIDE FACE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PROBLEMS WHEN ADDRESSING THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE AT RISK IN A TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY. RURAL COMMUNITIESMUST ALSO FIGHT THE STEREOTYPE THAT BEING REMOVED FROM TECHNICAL AND CULTURAL CENTERS PREVENTS THEM FROM DEVELOPINGHUMAN RESOURCES THAT CAN COMPETE IN A MODERN SOCIETY. TO COMBAT THESE PROBLEMS EDUCATORS MUST DEVELOP PROBLEM-SOLVINGSKILLS AND PROCESSES THAT ALLOW HIGHER LEVELS OF THINKING WHILE HELPING STUDENTS DEAL WITH A FAST-CHANGING WORLD ALONGWITH PROBLEM-SITUATIONS THAT THEY FACE. RURAL EDUCATORS MUST ALSO DEAL WITH THEIR OWN STAFF-RELATED PROBLEMS. THIS RESEARCH WILL CULMINATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM WHERE BOTH TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL, BECOME BETTER CRITICAL THINKERS, IMPROVE SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT,AND PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL REFORM IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE CREATION OF THIS CURRICULUM IS DOOMED TO FAILURE WITHOUTA COST-EFFECTIVE AND TIME-EFFICIENT WAY TO INVOLVE EVERY ADULT AND STUDENT. TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WE WILL DEVELOP FURTHER A STATE-OF-THE-ART DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT FACILITATES A COMPLETE YEAR OF TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR EVERY STAFF MEMBER AND PARENT, IS IMPLEMENTABLE AT ANY BUILDING SITE, MERGES ROLE MODELING WITH THE BEST OF ADULT TRAINING AND CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, AND MEETS EVERYONE'S DIVERSE SCHEDULES. BRIEFLY, THIS INNOVATIVE, SCHOOL-BASED DELIVERY SYSTEM CAPTURES ON SHORT VIGNETTES AND IN PRINT THE ESSENCE OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS.