Communities depend on public schools so that students can acquire the skills and knowledge to be ready to seize their future, but rural school districts face persistent staffing problems, and rural educators often have qualification gaps when compared to their urban counterparts. In the face of attacks on schools, teachers, students, and parents, we need to support our schools to be successful hubs for learning, care, and engagement for the entire community.
Access to affordable child care is critical for families’ financial well-being, but child care in rural America is extremely limited.