Announcing Our Policy Playbook Partnerships
RSC partners with organizations to create regional policy recommendations from rural teachers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Rural Imperative Initiative: Policy Playbook Partnerships Announced
Rural Schools Collaborative partners with five organizations to create regional policy recommendations from rural teachers.
Rural Schools Collaborative, National Rural Education Association, and Community Foundation of the Ozarks are proud to announce the launch of the Rural Imperative Initiative, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This multifaceted program aims to build a compelling national narrative, one that is both evidential and aspirational, and to connect this “story” to state, regional, and national policymakers and influencers.
In order to amplify the influence of rural teachers, Rural Schools Collaborative (RSC) identified five regions throughout the US to convene Rural Teacher Caucuses. These groups’ efforts will culminate in a “Policy Playbook” of local recommendations based on the specific challenges and opportunities in their area. This project will help teacher-leaders connect policy to place in five rural regions: Appalachia, Black Belt, Borderlands, Rust Belt, and Northern California.
Each partner organization receives $10,000 in funding to convene and support rural teacher-leaders in the development of a Policy Playbook. Rural Schools Collaborative is pleased to announce the following regional partners:
- Borderlands region: Arizona Rural Schools Association
- Appalachia region: The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
- Black Belt region: The University of West Alabama
- Northern California region: North State Together & CSU Chico
- Rust Belt region: Missouri State University
“Advocating for rural education has been a long-standing priority for each of these five organizations,” says Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, Rural Schools Collaborative Executive Director. “We are honored to work with such high caliber partners to create a meaningful platform for teacher advocacy.”
Over the coming school year, the Policy Playbook partnership will support these five partners in exploring the opportunities and challenges faced by teachers in their region. RSC, in partnership with the NREA, will then compile these recommendations and advocacy guidelines into a useful resource to benefit teachers and policymakers everywhere.
Special thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their support of this project.
For more information, please contact Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, Rural Schools Collaborative Executive Director: taylor@ruralschoolscollaborative.org, 316-210-2930
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The Rural Schools Collaborative is a national nonprofit launched in 2015 to build sustainable rural communities. With a keen focus on place, teachers, and philanthropy, RSC's mission is realized through four signature efforts: The Place Network, Rural Teacher Corps, Grants in Place, and Impact Philanthropy. RSC is powered by a small, dedicated staff and board, as well as Regional Hub Partnerships. Learn more at ruralschoolscollaborative.org.
The Rural Imperative Initiative is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in partnership with RSC, NREA, & CFO. This initiative will amplify the voices of rural teachers through the following ways: create Regional Policy Playbooks advocacy recommendations, expand the I Am a Rural Teacher Campaign, strengthen efforts to retain younger rural teachers, engage leaders in broadband advocacy leading up to the 2021 National Rural Education Association conference, and leverage opportunities for rural educators in America to connect with rural educators across the world.