The Three “R’s” of Schools in Rural Areas

Rural central schools are a natural setting for working with children and adolescents in rural America. Most rural schools house grades Pre-K through 12th grades. Rural areas have unique and increased busing needs and issues, with fewer resources. Research shows that the earlier we teach our children emotional literacy skills, the higher their functioning will be and in turn they can build resiliency. This chapter looks into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the President’s New Freedom Commission’s recommendations for school-aged children, and ways that the psychological and educational communities can collaborate for the benefit of working with rural children and their families.