Rural Schools Association

The New York State Center for Rural Schools aims to be a leader in solving systemic problems and improving opportunities, practice, policy for rural schools and the communities they serve. The Center is working with many partners to assist rural communities and the state of New York to (re)create socially and economically vibrant communities across... the state of NY. Communities across the state are experiencing declining population, changing demographics, declining property values, increasing property tax rates, increasing healthcare and pension fund costs. Communities are also challenged to support improvements in their public schools to meet the new Regents Learning and Graduation Standards implemented in 2000 and federal requirements through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Moreover, during the 2008 legislative session, a proposal to cap school property tax increases to 4% per year gained momentum. Finally, in 2008, Governor Paterson accepted final reports from two commissions, the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness and the Commission on Property Tax Relief, the second of which calls for the merger of all distircts with fewer than 1000 students. It is in this context the Center aims to provide timely and valuable service to New York State.Read More