Reforming the Rural Education Task Force

A February 2, 2005 Education Week article sheds new light on the ineffectiveness of the U.S. Department of Education's Rural Education Task Force. Author Alan Richard presents a balanced report on the task force giving voice to both critics and department spokesman. The problem for the department is that the more we learn about the task force, the surer we are that the task force is a waste of time.

The main weakness of the Rural Education Task Force is that is was created in an organizational culture that treats rural schools as though they are small, city schools. There is no recognition by department leaders that rural schools and communities are different. Nor do they realize that the department must change the way it works with rural schools. Secretary Margaret Spellings can do six things to address this problem.

(1) Create the expectation that the department will no longer treat rural schools like miniature urban schools and will work to address the unique problems facing rural schools.

(2) Reconstitute the Rural Education Task Force and name David Dunn chair. Putting your chief of staff in charge will raise the visibility and expectations of the group. A shortcoming of the current task force is that there isn't a high-ranking official who can provide some clout to its efforts.

(3) Give the Rural Education Task Force one year to publish a report outlining how the department will become more responsive to the needs of rural schools. Direct the task force to work with colleagues in other departments (e.g., Agriculture, Health & Human Services).

(4) In support of #2, order every agency and office in the Department of Education to develop and implement plans to change they way they operate to better serve rural schools. Emphasize that the status quo is unacceptable. Have agencies and offices provide this information to the Rural Education Task Force to incorporate into their report.

(5) A year after you've given the Rural Education Task Force it's task, hold a rural education summit where you release the task force's report and kick off a new era of responsiveness to the needs of rural schools and communities.

(6) Disband the task force and thank the members for their service. In its place, create a national advisory board that holds the department accountable for serving the educational needs of rural communities.

Improving the Department of Education's responsiveness to rural issues has to start some place and this is as good as any. It can be achieved if Secretary Spellings makes it a priority. She might want to consult with former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson for advice since he lead a similar effort in that department a few years ago.