Advocating for Rural Schools: Organization Works to Help Students in Small Districts

With an extensive background in public education and a passion for rural schools, Randy Willis took on the role of executive director of the Texas Association of Rural Schools about a year ago. But he has been committed to rural schools for a long time. 

Before joining TARS, Willis was superintendent at Granger ISD for nine years. He retired in 2021 and became a field service consultant for the Region 13 Education Service Center. 

Willis was one of five superintendents to serve on the Accountability Policy Advisory Committee to the commissioner of education at the Texas Education Agency. In that role, he represented the interests of rural districts as he helped shape overall assessment and accountability policies for eight years. He also was president of the Texas Rural Education Association [a different organization from TARS] in 2020-21. 

He has been recognized on the national level for his innovative approaches to education, which include showing that rural schools can be innovative and high achieving as a case study highlighted by Johns Hopkins University in 2017. 

At TARS, he works to further the association’s mission to empower rural education and uphold the distinct identity of rural communities and their schools while highlighting their indispensable role in developing the foundations of the next generation of Texans. 

Texas has more than 2,000 campuses classified as being in rural areas, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. Texas has more schools in rural areas than any other state, with more than 20% of campuses located in rural areas. Some 900,000 Texas public education students attend rural schools. 

Rural schools face unique funding and teaching challenges, and TARS is dedicated to helping them succeed. 

TARS, representing 375 public school districts in the state, advocates for equitable educational opportunities, resources, and support for these rural schools to ensure that all students receive a quality education regardless of their geographic location. Over the years, TARS has grown into a respected voice among state leadership. Through testifying before committees and directly interacting with legislators, the association has been at the forefront of representing the interests of rural schools. 

Texas Lone Star talked to Willis about TARS and his goals. His responses have been condensed and edited. 

Q&A

Q: What brought rural schools together to form their own association? 

A: The concept of an association dedicated to the needs of Texas rural schools was formed in 1990 during a spirited discussion among several dedicated superintendents who recognized a growing need for these districts to have a stronger voice at the state level. Officially called the Texas Association of Rural Schools, the organization was established with a focus on districts that had an average daily attendance of 1,600 or fewer students and were deeply connected to the agricultural economy. The mission was clear: safeguard the future of small schools. 

Q: What’s the most challenging issue(s) rural school districts face today? 

A: Many rural districts in Texas struggle to recruit and retain qualified teachers. The factors contributing to this issue include lower base salaries, limited local teacher supply, geographic and social isolation, and increased workloads. 

These challenges have led to high turnover rates and a reliance on unlicensed teachers. Nearly 75% of new hires in rural areas for the 2023-24 school year were unlicensed. Additionally, rural districts start beginning teacher salaries with an average of $15,000 to as much as $27,000 less than larger, better-funded suburban and urban school districts. 

Rural schools often lack access to essential resources and technology. The Texas Rural Schools Task Force has highlighted the need for better resource allocation and the use of technology to support rural education. 

The legislative landscape also poses challenges for rural schools. Efforts to pass school voucher programs have been met with strong opposition from rural districts because we fear that these programs would divert much-needed funds away from public schools. The ongoing debate and lack of resolution on this issue creates uncertainty and hinders the ability of rural schools to plan and allocate resources effectively. 

Q: How do rural schools address these challenges? 

A: We want to raise existing teacher salaries in rural districts to make these positions more competitive. Salary incentives also can help retain teachers for longer periods. One of the best strategies available in terms of potential state legislation is to increase the state minimum for beginning salaries for teachers. 

In addition, enhancing the working environment and providing better support can help retain teachers. This includes reducing class sizes, offering professional development opportunities, and improving school facilities. An increase in the small school adjustment allotment could significantly help our rural school districts improve their working conditions.

 Other efforts that can have a positive impact include partnering with universities to fund rural teacher preparation programs to help create a pipeline of well-trained teachers. This approach aims to reduce reliance on alternatively certified teachers, who are less likely to stay beyond five years. In addition, reducing the cost of obtaining a teaching certification and offering tuition loans can attract professionals from other fields into teaching. Offering additional pay to teachers to work in the most challenging or isolated settings in Texas can make these positions more attractive. 

Programs like the Rural Education Achievement Program provide supplemental funding to help rural districts address local academic needs and increase student achievement. These programs offer greater flexibility in the use of federal resources, allowing districts to allocate funds where they are most needed. An increase in the small-school allotment would significantly help rural school districts across the state. 

Rural districts have been advocating for legislative changes to address funding inequities. This includes pushing for adjustments in the school finance system to ensure more accurate property value assessments and equitable distribution of state funds. 

Engaging the community and state leaders in understanding the unique challenges rural districts face can help garner support for necessary funding and policy changes. This includes highlighting the critical role rural schools play in their communities and the broader state education system. 

Addressing the challenges of teacher recruitment, retention, and financial inequities in Texas rural schools requires a multifaceted approach. By implementing targeted salary incentives, improving working conditions, enhancing teacher preparation programs, and advocating for equitable funding, rural districts can better support their educators and students. These efforts are crucial for ensuring that rural students receive a quality education and that rural communities remain vibrant and sustainable. 

Q: TARS has worked on multiple efforts to help rural districts. For example, when Senate Bill 1525 took away Career and Technical Education funding for rural districts, TARS was instrumental in getting the funding reinstated. What advocacy efforts did TARS implement to make that happen? 

A: In September 2019, TARS became aware of a funding glitch that limited CTE funding of schools with 800 and below student enrollment. TARS actively engaged with state legislators to highlight the importance of CTE funding for rural schools. The organization provided testimonies and data to demonstrate how the loss of funding would negatively impact rural students’ access to essential CTE programs. Former Executive Director Mike Lee, Leigh Ann Glaze (TARS operations director), and Past President Aaron Hood all played a critical leadership role for the TARS legislative effort in 2019. 

TARS also built coalitions with other education organizations, school districts, and community stakeholders to create a unified voice advocating for the reinstatement of CTE funding. This collective effort helped amplify their message and garner broader support. 

TARS facilitated direct communication between rural school administrators, teachers, and policymakers. They organized meetings and discussions where educators could share firsthand experiences and the impact of funding cuts on their programs. 

As a result of these comprehensive advocacy efforts, TARS was successful in getting the CTE funding reinstated for rural districts in 2019. This reinstatement ensured that rural students continued to have access to valuable CTE opportunities, which are essential for their academic and professional development. 

These efforts underscore the importance of organized advocacy and the impact that a dedicated organization like TARS can have on shaping education policy to benefit rural communities. 

Q: Suburban and urban residents may not have much exposure to rural districts. What would you tell them about rural districts and why it’s important to help them? 

A: I love talking about the importance of rural school districts and rural communities in Texas! They play a vital role in the state’s economy and overall well-being, making it crucial for suburban and urban residents to understand and support them. Rural areas are essential for Texas’ agricultural production, energy extraction, and manufacturing sectors, contributing billions to the state’s economy annually. The success of rural communities, and that includes the school districts, directly impacts the state’s ability to meet global demands for crops, livestock, oil and gas, petrochemicals, high-tech manufacturing, and other domestic and international goods. 

Rural students, comprising 37% of Texas’ student population, will play a crucial role in the state’s future workforce. Ensuring rural students receive quality education is essential to developing a skilled labor force to sustain key industries. 

In addition, many of Texas’ most beautiful natural areas and cultural attractions are located in rural regions. Preserving rural communities helps maintain the state’s rich heritage and tourism appeal. 

By understanding the importance of rural schools and the unique challenges they face, suburban and urban residents can better appreciate the need for targeted support and advocacy efforts. Investing in rural education is an investment in the future economic prosperity, workforce development, and cultural preservation of our great state. 

Learn more about TARS at tarsed.org.