Overview
The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) brought a group of federal policy leaders to North Carolina to examine how rural education systems are providing high quality instruction and improving the readiness of young people for life beyond high school. This fact finding mission is part of a series of trips planned for policymakers to improve policy for college and career readiness and success, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Trip participants included Congressional staff, Department of Education officials, and representatives of national education organizations. Discussions and site visits provided rich examples of how resources are being utilized to address the challenges facing rural areas. Participants learned about how federal and state policies and funding streams affect rural school districts; the unique challenges of providing high quality instruction in rural settings; and innovative approaches to providing comprehensive education in rural communities.
This learning exchange took place starting on the evening of Monday, February 15th, and concluded on the evening of Wednesday, February 17th. In addition to discussions with school leadership, educators, and students during our site visits, trip participants also heard from high-level state and local policy leaders, as well as other stakeholders committed to improving college access and preparedness for life for all of North Carolina’s youth.
Trip participants visited two innovative rural high schools that are leveraging state and local resources to provide a high quality, comprehensive education to youth. Site visits included Warren New Tech High School in Warren County and Sampson Early College High School in Sampson County. Warren County New Tech High, open since 2007, is a small, redesigned high school that engages students in project-based learning. Warren New Tech is one of three high schools that students may choose to attend in a district of approximately 2,800 students in northeastern North Carolina. Sampson Early College High was opened in 2005 on the campus of Sampson Community College, and enables students to gain postsecondary credit and training in careers important to the local economy while they are in high school. Sampson County serves approximately 8,000 students in south-central North Carolina.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Click here to read the full report (Policy Brief) on this study mission
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
-
AYPF North Carolina & U.S. Rural Education Fact Sheet
- Warren Record article: Ground Broken at New Site of Warren New Tech High
- New York Times article: Early College High Schools in North Carolina
- County Profile for Warren County (February 16th Site Visit)
- County Profile for Sampson County (February 17th Site Visit)
- County Profile for Bertie County (Featured in February 16th Panel Discussion)
- County Profile for Wilkes County (Featured in February 16th Panel Discussion)
TRIP RESOURCES:
RURAL EDUCATION RESOURCES:
- Rural School and Community Trust Report: Why Rural Matters 2009: State and Regional Challenges and Opportunities
- Alliance for Excellent Education Report: Current Challenges and Opportunities in Preparing Rural High School Students for Success in College and Careers
- NPR Story on Teaching in Rural North Carolina
- Carsey Institute Research Brief: Students in Rural Schools Have Limited Access to
Advanced Mathematics Courses