Purdue Center for Rural Research, Education, and Outreach
To further the land grant mission of Purdue University, which emphasizes equal educational opportunities for all students, the College of Education, in partnership with key stakeholders, has established Indiana’s inaugural comprehensive rural education center.
About
Mission
The Purdue Center for Rural Research, Education, and Outreach ensures rural collaborative partnerships that promote high quality experiences for teachers and students; coordinates education outreach efforts; and provides sustainable opportunities for advancing the needs of rural communities through interdisciplinary research and advocacy.
The rural center plans to focus on five major strands:
- Continuing professional development
Providing research-based PD to rural P-12 teachers as one of the outputs of the center will ensure that rural teachers have access to the latest methods and best practices in teaching and learning. - Research
Focusing on developing rural community-based learning experiences to better understand authentic collaboration will strengthen pre-service teachers’ knowledge of community. - Teaching (Preparation, Recruitment, and Retention)
By intentionally increasing placements in neighboring rural areas, the center will position the COE and its partners to extend innovative and rigorous practices to surrounding Indiana rural communities. - Outreach
Indiana ranks among the top ten states with the largest population of students enrolled in rural school districts. For many rural communities, schools are the central organizing structure for providing awareness and delivery of social services.
Programs
Homegrown Teacher Initiative
The Homegrown Teacher Initiative is a pilot program currently for elementary and special education programs. One semester placements in your home district are available for many secondary programs. Purdue’s Homegrown Teacher Initiative is funded through the Indiana Department of Education’s Attract, Prepare, Retain (APR) Grant. The state-wide APR grants are aimed at helping schools and communities strengthen, expand, and diversify the educator pipeline.
Resources
Why Rural Matters
The National Rural Education Association is proud to release “Why Rural Matters 2023″—the 10th in a series of reports analyzing the contexts and conditions of rural education in each of the 50 states and calling attention to the need for policymakers and others to address rural education issues in their respective states.
Academic Programs
Take the next step and apply for one of our programs
Events
Rural Education Summit
The Rural Education Summit is an annual gathering that brings together educators, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities in rural communities. This collaborative space allows stakeholders to address the unique challenges and strengths of rural education, foster innovation, share best practices, and build a network to support rural students and educators.
News
Jay T. Akridge
Trustee Chair in Teaching and Learning Excellence Professor of Agricultural Economics Purdue University
Kier Crites Muller
President/CEO Food Finders Food Bank
Janay Rentas
Coordinator LGBTQ Center Purdue University
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