The Bloomsbury Handbook of Rural Education in the United States - (Bloomsbury Handbooks) by Amy Price Azano & Karen Eppley & Catharine Biddle

Book Synopsis

This handbook begins with a foundational overview of rural education, examining the ways in which definitions, histories, policies, and demographic changes influence rural schools. This foundational approach includes how corporatization, population changes, poverty, and the role of data affect everyday learning in rural schools. In following sections, the contributors consider how school closures, charter schools, and district governance influence decision making in rural schooling, while also examining the influence of these structures on higher education attainment, rural school partnerships, and school leadership. They explore curriculum studies in rural education, including place-based and trauma-informed pedagogies, rural literacies, rural stereotype threat, and achievement. Finally, they engage with issues of identity and equity in rural schools by providing an overview of the literature related to diverse populations in rural places, including Indigenous, Black, and Latinx communities, and exceptional learners. Importantly, this handbook applies theoretical tools to rural classroom experiences, demonstrating the potential of work centered at the intersection of theory, rurality, and classroom practice. Each section concludes with a response by an international scholar, situating the topics covered within the broader global context.

Review Quotes

This Handbook constitutes a significant landmark in rural education studies globally. The individual chapters represent an appropriate blend of rigorous research and practical strategies, and the Handbook as a whole engages with important 'hot topics' in understanding and valuing rural schools.
Patrick Danaher, Professor of Educational Research, University of Southern Queensland, Australia

This Handbook is a rich and engaging collection of scholarly works on rural education in the USA. It provides an outstanding but accessible representation of current and emerging trends. A much-needed book which is highly recommended to all.
Laurence Lasselle, Senior Lecturer in the School of Management, University of St Andrews, UK

With the publication of this Handbook, rural education has just been remembered and reimagined. The editors have selected seasoned contributors who bring historical perspective on rural life and curriculum, as well the racially and culturally diverse voices needed to lead relevant conversations today. A remarkable achievement.
David A. Greenwood, Professor of Education, Lakehead University, Canada

About the Author

Amy Price Azano is Associate Professor in the School of Education at Virginia Tech, USA, and co-editor of The Rural Educator.

Karen Eppley is Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University, USA, and editor of the Journal of Research in Rural Education.

Catharine Biddle is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Maine, USA, and co-editor of The Rural Educator.