Rural Schools Watch the Clock

The class of 2004 will only be about 27 kids in the Cutter-Morning Star district, no A.P. classes are offered there, and you cant take German. Still superintendent Carl Hughes feels the district can offer kids the world. Hes like dozens of other small district leaders who just want a chance to meet the strict academic standards the states considering as part of reform plans. Hughes sat down with lawmakers today during the Rural Education Association conference in Hot Springs. He and others are working to shed the image that theyre only worried about consolidation. They also want to be seen as strong advocates of rigorous curriculum. Today makes one month and 5 days until the planned start of a special session on education. Arkansas under a court mandate to make public schooling equal and adequate by January first. All of the Governors reform proposals have included size-based consolidation. Today several lawmakers stated the latest of those plans doesnt have enough votes to pass the House.