PENNSYLVANIA Report: Rural schools lack funds, technology

Rural areas have seen a drop in their young populations.
UNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Pupils in rural schools perform at or near state norms and their passage rate is more than 15 percent above that of their urban counterparts, according to a state legislative report.
But the report, released last week by the state House Commission on Rural Education, found that funding is short for key programs to keep pace with national and statewide standards.
The report, which followed 11 public meetings around the state over 14 months, contains 32 recommendations for rural schools, such as improving educational opportunities and access to higher education.
"Technology must be made available, including broadband, which has been accessible to cities, but not rural areas," said Rep. Jess M. Stairs, R-Westmoreland. "We must provide job opportunities and provide young people with a future so they have incentives to return to rural areas. Otherwise, they may choose to remain in metropolitan areas."
Rural areas -- defined by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania as counties and school districts with fewer than 274 persons per square mile within the county or school district -- account for about 25 percent of the state's population. Rural areas have seen a decrease in their young populations since the 1990s.
"Policy-makers need to be aware that the migration of young people out of Pennsylvania's rural backbone must be curtailed in order for our rural and farming communities to grow and prosper," Stairs said.
Recommendations
Recommendations include addressing compensation for school officials, establishing a Pennsylvania Accountability Grant Program for added access to grant money, offering early childhood education and improved health care and encouraging schools to partner with urban areas.
John Fibbi, director of the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School and one of the 25 commission members, said lawmakers are working on legislation to address many recommendations -- many of which deal with funding.
"All problems can't be solved with money, but a lot of people are doing a lot with less," Fibbi said.
"There are great differences in resources. The recommendations for funding will hopefully level the playing field and provide some extra opportunities."