Building School, Family, and Community Partnerships That Support Rural Diverse and Exceptional Learners
Abstract
Research demonstrates that school, family, and community partnerships are mutually beneficial, holding the potential to foster positive educational, emotional, and behavioral benefits for all students, especially diverse and exceptional students. Our qualitative study examined survey responses from 109 administrators, general and special educators, and parents in rural schools across western Kansas. We identified common barriers and successes to building parent partnerships related to communication, access, and attitudes about working with diverse and exceptional families. One major finding was the importance of “place”—rural communities are often close-knit and connected across generations. We propose a model that can be used by rural schools to build strong, sustainable partnerships with families and the community through purposeful attitudes, interactions, and structures.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Parental Involvement in Education
Indigenous and Place-Based Education
Teacher Education and Leadership Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The rural educator
- Publisher
- Mississippi State University Libraries - DIGITAL COMMONS JOURNALS
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1–13
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN