Drive across any rural town in the United States and you will find skeletons of industry past. Factories, which once employed thousands and allowed families to live a comfortable middle-class lifestyle, have gone dark, signaling death to these once great industrial foundations which served as the hub of economic development and community pride.
With each change in economy, comes great opportunity for institutions able to embrace the notion that evolving times require revisions in strategies to support sustainable communities. The industrial economy based on brawn and muscle has been replaced by a globally interconnected economy requiring brain power and adaptability to the constant need for retooling of skills.
Years before the Great Recession brought a renewed focus on the inequalities that exist across the nation, high needs rural communities were already experiencing the effects of globalization, above average unemployment and the migration of the best and brightest talent to urban centers. This loss of jobs and talent strained local government budgets, forcing difficult decisions over investing in the future (schools, infrastructure, etc.) or the vital services the public demands each day to provide safety for residents.
Ensuring programs that provide access to college and careers for our rural students is a first step at closing the gap in equity that exists between rural and metropolitan communities. The Rural Innovative Schools initiative promises to transform the high school classroom to meet the needs of all students – an effort that is critical not only for the students and their families, but also for the future of rural economic development. This change in approach that focuses on emerging careers with college level coursework promises to graduate students with the skills necessary for workforce success.
As we work with rural communities in Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, we’re collaborating with a range of partners to provide students with increased exposure to college and career readiness.
Schools cannot do this alone. In recognition of this, the U.S. Department of Education supported our Rural Innovative Schools initiative with a $20 million grant, and we are receiving additional private investment to expand this work. Area business and industry are following suit and are stepping up as important partners in re-imagining what’s possible for their schools and communities.
Rural communities are blessed with an abundance of human resources that are often overlooked as potential partners in workforce development initiatives undertaken by schools.
Throughout each of our rural partner communities K-12 educators, higher education partners, business leaders and policy makers have gathered together to identify the necessary individuals and organizations that can support education in providing work-wased learning opportunities for students and educators. Through the process, everyone from community colleges to major employers to entrepreneurial start-ups – schools and businesses are recognizing the resources available for students and teachers preparing for a new economy.
It is essential that business leaders, policy makers and educators work in tandem to prepare students for emerging careers. Business leaders and policy makers must support educators in developing new practices that will introduce students to career activities such as job shadowing and internships.
The rural economy has changed dramatically in the past thirty years. By adapting and using strategies that prepare students for the new economy, a revitalization of rural economic development is within reach. Institutions that prepare the workforce –a community’s schools – are in the unique position to become the hubs of economic renewal and community pride.
Collaborative partnerships between educators, business leaders and policy makers is an essential component of the revitalization. By working together to address the shared interest of utilizing a community’s resources to provide students with the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to be successful in careers, this collaborative effort of all stakeholders will enable the sustainability of rural communities for generations to come.
