Research On Reforms In Basic Education In Rural America At The Beginning Of 21st Century

The United States is a highly industrialized and urbanized country. However, according to the 2000 American Census, there are about 21% Americans living in rural areas. And surveys of the National Center for Education Statistics shows there are about 8 million students learning in rural public elementary and secondary schools in 2001. So, basic education in rural district is still an important part of American education.On January 8, 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act, an act about reforms in basic education in America, came into effect. Owing to the only-one system for rural and urban education, the Act is also the main directions for reforms in rural basic education. But the situation in rural America and rural schools is blocking the development of rural education, making the reforms face some problems and challenges. Although there are some initiative solutions to these problems, but little achievements has been got.The thesis takes the application of NCLB Act in rural America as center, trying to do a systematic and comprehensive research on the current reforms in basic education in rural America. And reflections and references for China are also main aims. The thesis has the following seven parts.In "Introduction", five subjects are elaborated: aim of the research, literature research findings, research thoughts, scope of research and research methods.In part one, the concepts are defined. Based on the comparative analysis on three kinds of codes used by American federal offices to distinguish urban and rural, "rural America" is defined as areas with population less than 2,500; and "basic education in rural America" is defined as basic education taking place in public schools in rural America.In part two, the historical development of basic education in rural America is divided into two periods: the period of institutionalization of rural basic education (from the end of 1500's to the latter part of 1800's) and the period of urbanization of rural basic education (from the end of 1800's to the end of 1900's).Part three is about the background of the reforms in basic education in rural America. Although there are great differences in different states, some characteristics of rural population and society, such as population loss, great mobility, high poverty and less influence in policy-making, etc. are common. Basic education in rural America is hard to develop well because of these features.In part four, the following aspects of the current reforms in rural basic education are discussed: aims, policies, basic experience and main features.In part five, the main problems in the reforms in rural public schools under the...