Researchers concluded that the intended balance of local control, in which the state provides clear guidance for districts to make wise decisions, has gone awry.
As urban districts grapple with the threat of school closures, rural schools face an even more heart-wrenching scenario: close the school and decimate the town.
While expanding programs like transitional kindergarten, or TK, has helped stabilize overall enrollment, educators and policymakers are still working to ensure those programs meet key quality standards.