The four articles included in this special collection of the Journal of Research in Rural Education have their roots in a national research symposium hosted by the Economic Research Service, the Southern Rural Development Center, and the Rural School and Community Trust entitled, “Promoting the Economic and Social Vitality of Rural America: The Role of Education.” That gathering of about 45 individuals engaged in applied research, practice, and policy analysis led to 2 days of focused discussion ... and debate on the state of rural education. Four overarching themes served as the focal point for the research papers commissioned for this conference: (a) achievement in rural schools; (b) rural schools, communities, and at-risk populations; (c) schools and local community impacts; and (d) education and the labor markets in rural communities. The articles in this special collection are representative of these themes and, we believe, align nicely with the purview of JRRE.
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