On June 7, Superintendent Denise Juneau will host education leaders from rural states across the country in Big Sky, Montana. The conference, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), is an opportunity for heads of state education departments to address current education issues in rural states.
“I am looking forward to speaking with my peers about how we’re working to improve education outcomes in Montana,” said Superintendent Juneau. “Rural states face unique challenges in implementing federal reforms and overcoming geographic and economic barriers, so it’s critical that we have the opportunity to share best practices with each other.”
The first day of the conference will address American Indian education issues, including closing the achievement gap, and will feature presentations from the Bureau of Indian Education as well as Superintendent Juneau.
The rural chiefs will also discuss how to improve academic achievement in small, rural schools as well as ways to leverage resources, particularly around the common core state standards and new assessments. They will also receive the latest information on federal funding opportunities from the U.S. Dept of Education and the USDA and address the “brain drain” in rural America.
States participating: Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
