The Rural School and Community Trust, a national nonprofit organization that works to improve rural education, commissioned the study. Possible reasons for higher academic achievement are greater parental involvement, more community support and better tutorial relationships between students and teachers, according to Marty Strange, policy director for the Trust. States concerned about reinvesting in deteriorating schools should not be eager to increase school size in most instances. The report did not exam class size. Inc. The 134-page book offers teachers guidelines and strategies to observe children in the classroom.
Observation also helps teachers build relationships with children and their families.
Progress Toward the Goals in 1999 is rooted in data from the Goals Panel's annual report on progress the nation and states are making to achieve the eight national education goals. One indicator for each Goal is highlighted in Promising Practices. Officials in states that performed well or showed dramatic improvement on these indicators were asked to explain why they thought their state may have done so well in that particular area. The policies and programs credited with the improvements are described in Promising Practices, along with contact information and a resource list. Among the states featured in the report, Connecticut stands out for its high level of achievement and significant improvements on a variety of indicators.