Rural Issues

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1 Where do Progressives Stand?
2 Hot Topics
3 In the News
4 Facts and Statistics
5 Organizations
6 Sources

[edit] Where do Progressives Stand?

The revitalization of the rural community is necessary for the health of the nation as a whole.

The continued growth and development of rural communities.

Starting innovation in the rural communities rather then bringing in outdated methods.

More funding is necessary for rural communities to be comparative to urban communities.

[edit] Hot Topics

[edit] The Prevalence of Under- or Unused Plans

There are many excellent plans for the development and effective use of rural communities, plans that can help rural communities to grow and ensure that those communities do not continue to fall behind the quickly developing urban communities. These plans are developed by professors and lawmakers that have some vision. Charlie Kuperus working as Agriculture secretary has developed a generalizable and effective plan that utilized some innovative organizational techniques as well as providing necessary resources to these struggling communities, but his plan only made it as far as his state of New Jersey in the 2 years after it was implemented. Another plan was written by Allan Odden describing a great method for effectively using tax money to provide necessary money to struggling rural schools, but his plan made it only as far as the page it was written on. Other politicians have to notice these great ideas for what they are and use them to the advantage of the rural communities within their constituencies. (See articles: Progressive States Network, 2006.03.02; Rural Policy Matters, 2006.12)

[edit] Innovation in Rural Communities

It is important that innovation start in rural communities rather than just end up there after they have been established else where. A key area here is alternative energy development grants which haven been provided by companies like USDA and it is incredible that such projects are underway. We should remain hopeful that this is a development that will continue to expand throughout the country. (See article USDA, 2008.06.19)

[edit] Prioritize Rural Schools

Rural schools need to be prioritized because they are the schools that are struggling the most, yet Congress seems intent on finding backhanded ways to shorthand funding to these schools. Although these schools are small, short handing many small schools adds up to a lot of unavailable money. The problem is that these schools need more money because they are have the most difficulties, not so much in Wisconsin but nationwide this is true, so being shorthanded hurts all the more. It is important that this silent mistreatment is watched for and prevented. (See article Rural Policy Matters, 2008.02)

[edit] In the News

Smart Growth to Protect Rural America.After winning the Governor's seat in New Jersey, Jon Corzine decided to keep a Republican in the position of Agriculture Secretary. It was a good move. Charlie Kuperus has held the position in 2002 and has won broad support from both parties for his support of a number of measures in support of rural New Jersey. One of Kuperus' best accomplishments has been his role in New Jersey's adoption of an agricultural smart growth plan. The plan involves a number of provisions. The state purchases development rights from some farmers, permanently protecting farms while passing resources to farmers to reinvest in their farms. Where growth is spreading to rural areas, it is channeled into higher density development to prevent farmland encroachment. [Progressive States Network, 2006.03.02]

USDA Awards $1.52 Million For Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Projects.Agriculture Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner announced today that 20 individuals and businesses in six states have been selected to receive $1.52 million in loans and grants for renewable energy systems or to increase energy efficiency in farm and business operations. The funds are being provided under USDA Rural Development’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency program. [USDA, 2008.06.19]

Congress Increases the "Rural Penalty" Under Title I.These are the two parts of the Title I formula that use a complicated weighting system that sends more money per eligible pupil to larger districts than to smaller ones with similar high poverty rates. In some cases, the formulas provide more per pupil money to large districts with lower poverty rates than small districts with higher poverty rates. Because these small, high poverty school districts are overwhelmingly rural, we call this weighting system the "Rural Penalty." Congress just increased the Title I Rural Penalty. [Rural Policy Matters, 2008.02]

Rural School Funding News Extras? Wisconsin School Funding Study Presented.The legislative committee reviewing school funding issues in the state has received a study by Allan Odden, a University of Wisconsin-Madison education professor and nationally recognized finance adequacy researcher. The plan gives detailed cost estimates which, according to Odden, would double achievement rates for Wisconsin students. The report includes recommendations for using a three-year enrollment count for districts with declining enrollment. It also recommends adjustments for small schools and districts and more state aid for low-income, limited-English-proficient, and special education students. The model calls for more academic teachers in high school, but fewer specialty teachers. The plan is based on a local tax rate of $7 for every $1,000 of equalized value, which would require nearly one-third of districts to raise taxes to meet that level. The legislative committee will also hear two additional plans, one from Senator Jon Erpenbach and one from the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools. The committee also heard a presentation by Jack Norman of The Institute for Wisconsin's Future that discussed raising revenue for increased funding for schools. [Rural Policy Matters, 2006.12]

[edit] Facts and Statistics

40% of Wisconsin schools are located in rural areas

Wisconsin ranks 46th in the country in need of rural education attention and improvement

Over 51 million Americans live in areas classified by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget as non-metropolitan

Less than 11% of the nation's physicians are practicing in non-metro areas

The majority of arrestees in rural counties were white (79%) and over the age of 18 (88%)

Despite an overall decrease in homicide trends, most of the decrease has occurred in large cities with rural areas experiencing relatively little change in homicide prevalence

[edit] Organizations

The Rural Life Center Students and faculty regularly conduct research about central Ohio rural life, and sponsor a variety of public projects and events involving rural life.

Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative The RWHC Vision is that rural Wisconsin communities will be the healthiest in America. Newsletters describing the problems and solutions to health issues in rural communities.

Wisconsin Rural Development Enhancing the ability of rural communities to develop, to grow, and to improve their quality of life by targeting financial and technical resources in areas of greatest need through activities of greatest potential.

Wisconsin Rural Partners Wisconsin Rural Partners, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, chartered to pursue an educational mission dedicated to building collaborative partnerships across the public and private sectors for the benefit of rural Wisconsin.