Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced today that, following almost a year of work across the state, the Texas Rural Schools Task Force has released a report, Texas Rural Schools Task Force: Elevating Support for Texas Rural and Small Schools.The Rural Schools Task Force (RSTF) was formed at the request of Morath, to identify current challenges and best practices for rural school districts statewide, and develop recommendations for the Texas Education Agency that would support rural schools and districts in overcoming obstacles and meeting the needs of Texas rural students. The task force report highlights 12 recommendations specific to rural schools in the areas of teacher recruitment, teacher retention, resource allocation, use of technology, as well as parent and community engagement. The report and its recommendations have been shared with the Commissioner and legislative offices. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is now mobilizing resources to incorporate the recommendations into the agency’s strategic operations and strengthen support provided to rural schools.
