With 1.9 million rural people and a substantial number of rural minority students, rural education in Virginia is very important. Rural schools and classes tend to be much larger than in most states, and rural teachers are paid below average, especially compared to other Virginia teachers. Nearly half the rural teachers feel that parents do not support their work. It is critical that policymakers give rural education in Virginia their attention.

From Why Rural Matters 2003: The Continuing Need for Every State to Take Action on Rural Education, February 2003. Learn more about why rural matters in your state.

Appalachian Regional Education Network The place-based education programs of the Appalachian Regional Education Network are bringing new awareness of the ecology, economy, and culture of Appalachia to students in rural Kentucky and Virginia, and spurring a new crop of student activists eager to protect their heritage and resources. Read more about this Featured Program Programs in Virginia Appalachian Regional Education Network

University-Community Partnerships: Addressing Community Issues Through Alternative Media (M. Newell, 2003)

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U.S. Census Bureau

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