Whole Child Newsletter


			Did You Know? Between 15 and 20 percent of the U.S. rural population lives in poverty, about 5 percent more than in urban areas. » Share ASCD's Whole Child website and newsletter.

	Out of Sight, Out of Mind A huge segment of students—those attending rural schools—don't often come up in conversations about education. Nearly one-fifth of the U.S. student population, or 10 million students, attends rural schools. Not only is this population of students larger than some of us may have guessed, but it's also ethnically, socioeconomically, and geographically diverse. At a time when many rural communities are undergoing socioeconomic revitalizations to ensure the livelihood and well-being of local families, we must ensure that the school improvement process is seen as part of community development. We know the strength and growth of communities depend on preparing young people to face the challenges of tomorrow. Conversely, we know the strength and growth of schools depend on the community's ability to create opportunities and meet challenges today. » Join us this month on the Whole Child Podcast: Changing the Conversation About Education to hear from two guests about how diverse rural communities can meet their challenges and make the most of their assets. Rachel Tompkins, immediate past president and senior fellow with the Rural School and Community Trust, shares the findings of Why Rural Education Matters 2009, a new report on the condition of rural education in the United States that uncovers new trends and challenges facing rural communities. James Holloway, assistant secretary of education in the Rural Education Division of the New Mexico Public Education Department, describes how schools are playing a leading role in New Mexico's grassroots rural revitalization initiative. Download this episode of the Whole Child Podcast today to hear all this and more.		Be Heard! Comment on Healthy People 2020 Healthy People, a national initiative that provides health promotion and disease prevention objectives to improve the health of all Americans, has opened its proposed 2020 objectives for public comment. ASCD will comment on those objectives that align with our mission to provide children with healthy learning environments that support their academic, physical, and emotional well-being. We encourage you to share your own comments through December 31. Find out more. » Expect More. Get More.

	“We've taught the teachers podcasting so children can take those Zunes on the bus with them and pick up their teachers' lessons and continue learning while they're riding on the bus. … Where we've got lemons, someone will turn around and make lemonade out of them.” —Jim Holloway, Assistant Secretary of Education, Rural Education Division, New Mexico Public Education Department, describing an innovative way educators are meeting the challenges of rural education

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Did You Know?

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Be Heard! Comment on Healthy People 2020