Report Calls on Congress to Address ‘Staggering’ Challenges Faced by
Students in Rural Communities to Ensure They Receive the Education They Need to Succeed
Alexandria, Va. – Nov. 15, 2017 – Limited access to advanced coursework, medical care, food and employment opportunities continue to daunt students in many rural communities, according to a report released today by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, and The Rural School and Community Trust.
The report, Leveling the Playing Field for Rural Students, highlights how Congress can provide leadership and support to ensure students living in rural America receive a quality education and succeed in life beyond high school.
This report is based on the need for equity for rural students, who are frequently misunderstood or underserved by federal policies and policymakers. Specifically, Leveling the Playing Field for Rural Students provides federal policymakers with five education policy recommendations that can be supported immediately and will benefit the one in six children living in rural communities:
“Rural children face greater levels of poverty than non-rural children,” said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. “As a nation, we must help children who live in these communities to not only thrive in high school, but succeed in college and in later life. For the sake of these children, we call on our policymakers to act quickly.”
In addition to detailing what federal policies can be further supported or amended to improve academic outcomes for rural students, Leveling the Playing Field also details why private school voucher programs are an implausible education reform strategy in rural communities.
The report states, “Rural and small-town public schools do more than just educate children. They serve a critical social and economic function as the primary employer of small communities; they may offer health care or medical referrals for children and adults, and they frequently offer food pantries, breakfast and lunch programs — and are the location of many other community activities. A decision by a rural family to withdraw a child from the public school and enroll them elsewhere doesn’t mean that the family disconnects from the school system — it simply means that the school has fewer resources to provide the non-instructional benefits required in its community.”
Nearly 9 million students attend rural schools — more than the enrollments of the New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and the nation’s next 75 largest school districts combined. Today’s announcement comes a week after AASA announced a partnership with The Rural School and Community Trust to support rural school district administrators and their communities.
Click here to access a copy of: Leveling the Playing Field for Rural Students. For specific questions about the report, contact Sasha Pudelski, AASA assistant director, policy and advocacy, at spudelski@aasa.org.
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About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.
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9:08 AM (1 hour ago)
to me
ENCIRCLE: LGBTQ FAMILY & YOUTH RESOURCE CENTER
HISTORIC UTAH LGBTQ+ YOUTH SUMMIT TO DRAW HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS
*Conference: December 2, 2017 from 12pm to 8pm at Utah Valley University in the CB
IGNITE, an LGBTQ+ Youth Summit will bring together young people from all parts of Utah on December 2nd at UVU. The goal of the event is to give young Utahns the tools they need to build community, foster creativity and ignite their excitement for the future. Lt Governor Spencer Cox will address the group. He will be joined by Bruce Bastian, Senator Jim Dabakis, and Encircle’s Executive Director Stephenie Larsen.
Encircle: LGBTQ+ Family & Youth Center is hosting the youth summit in an effort to bring together LGBTQ+ youth ages 14-18. Also invited are the student’s, parents, and school staff and administration are also welcome to attend, along with other youth 14-18 who are supportive and accepting.
Utah State Senator Jim Dabakis expressed his support of IGNITE, bringing together LGBTQ high school students from across the state, “This event will be remembered. It is an honor for anyone to be there and participate. There may be bigger and better conferences—but they will not be the first. This is historic for Utah.”
Encircle’s executive director Stephenie Larsen explained the motivation behind organizing the LGBTQ youth summit:
“ At IGNITE we want to remind the LGBTQ youth of Utah how how important they are, how much their lives matter and that their futures are bright.
“The youth coming to IGNITE may be feeling isolation, depression, and loneliness. We want them to understand they are not alone. We want them to know how important they are, how much they are valued and they can have an amazing future. Mostly we want them to feel love and connection.
“We hope that LGBTQ youth in Utah will feel accepted and loved by their communities; it's where we need to be as a community in order for these youth to be whole.”
The LGBTQ+ youth summit will be held on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The event will feature guest speakers from the community, breakout sessions addressing issues relevant to their lives, musical performances, and networking to access educational and career opportunities. Most importantly, the LGBTQ+ youth will receive tools and resources that help them to live authentically and have a positive impact in their communities, while determining the direction of their own future.
In discussing the purpose of the event, Encircle’s board co-chair, Barb Young, shared her enthusiasm:
“How incredible to gather hundreds of LGBTQ+ and ally youth from all over the state of Utah in one spot to celebrate friendship and camaraderie. This summit is a place of empowerment for our youth that will in turn strengthen our community. Encircle hosts events like IGNITE to celebrate the amazing lives of our LGBTQ+ youth. I am energized thinking about this event and all that it brings to the youth shaping our future.”
Expressing similar support for IGNITE, Encircle’s other co-chair, Will Spendlove, stated, “What an exciting chance for LGBTQ+ high school kids and allies from all over Utah to come together, meet each other, and share their own personal experiences. Encircle is thrilled to sponsor and celebrate each one of you, our brave youth.”
Pre-Registration can be done online at https://encircletogether.org/ignite, as well as finding out more details regarding IGNITE. Registration is also available at the event on Dec 2nd, beginning at 12pm.
In operation since February of this year, Encircle: LGBTQ Family & Youth Resource Center has served as a welcoming presence to sexual and gender minority youth and their families in Utah County and the surrounding community. The nonprofit organization offers love and support to LGBTQ youth and their families, while providing counseling, support groups, a motivational speaking series, arts and cultural activities, educational workshops focused on best-practices, substance abuse services, leadership opportunities, and much more. Learn more about the services Encircle offers at www.EncircleTogether.org
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GOOD TIGER
Releases New Video
Sophomore Album
We Will All Be Gone
Out February 9th, 2018 via Metal Blade Records
Pre-Order Now at: metalblade.com/goodtiger
Currently On Tour with I the Mighty & Hail The Sun
November 15, 2017 - Rock quintet Good Tiger is thrilled to share their brand new video "Grip Shoes," streaming now here: https://youtu.be/oSleQSJyaWY. The track comes from the band's forthcoming sophomore album, We Will All Be Gone, which is set to be released on February 9th, 2018 via Metal Blade Records. Pre-orders are available now at metalblade.com/goodtiger.
On the new track, vocalist Elliot Coleman shares: "'Grip Shoes' tells the tale of wasted potential; I'm sure we all find times in our life that are trivial, and not spent capitalizing on every moment. I'm very excited to share another track from our album, especially 'Grip Shoes,' as it's one of my favourites."
Good Tiger is currently on tour with I the Mighty and Hail The Sun, with upcoming shows in Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and more. For a full list of dates, please see below or visit: bandsintown.com/goodtiger.
Blending their influences in a manner that defies lazy classification sets Good Tiger apart from their contemporaries, imbuing everything they do with a distinctive sound and feel, and with We Will All Be Gone, Good Tiger have dramatically built upon their stunning debut, 2015's A Head Full Of Moonlight.
Comprised of guitarists Derya "Dez" Nagle and Joaquin Ardiles, bassist Morgan Sinclair, drummer Alex Rudinger, and vocalist Elliot Coleman, Good Tiger has raised the stakes across the board - every track on We Will All Be Gone has a definitive character of its own, and none stay in a single gear, all of them dynamic and textured as they evoke various tones and moods. Tracking at Middle Farm Studios in southwest England, the band recruited producer Forrester Savell (Karnivool/Dead Letter Circus), and engineer/mixer Adam "Nolly" Getgood (Periphery/Animals As Leaders). "We worked with Nolly on the last album, we had a great working relationship, and wanted to explore that further in a more developed situation," Dez explains. "Forrester has made some of our favorite albums, and is someone we could trust steering the ship. Having self-produced for so long it can be at times quite difficult to let go, so it was important we found people we could fully entrust to help create the album we wanted to make."
Good Tiger will release their sophomore album, We Will All Be Gone, on February 9th, 2018. To pre-order, please visit: metalblade.com/goodtiger.
For more information:
Website: www.goodtiger.co
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GoodTigerOfficial
Twitter: www.twitter.com/goodtiger
Instagram: www.instagram.com/goodtigerofficial
We Will All Be Gone Track Listing:
1. The Devil Thinks I'm Sinking
2. Float On
3. Such a Kind Stranger
4. Blueshift
5. Salt of the Earth
6. Grip Shoes
7. Just Shy
8. Nineteen Grams
9. Cherry Lemon
10. I'll Finish This Book Later
Upcoming Tour Dates w/I the Mighty & Hail The Sun:
Nov. 15 - Houston, TX @ The Studio @ Warehouse Live
Nov. 17 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
Nov. 18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
Nov. 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
