ABOUT THE RURAL INSTITUTE

The Institute for Rural Education and Community Development recognizes the challenges faced by rural communities and rural school districts in South Dakota and is committed to helping rural community leaders find creative and innovative strategies designed to meet those challenges.
The School of Education at NSU was recently awarded a PT3 (Preparing Tomorrows Teachers to Use Technology) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Rural education projects, funded by the PT3 grant, will partner university faculty and teacher education students with rural PK-12 teachers to create learning activities that address content standards and meet the diverse needs of PK-12 students. Rural community development projects, funded by reinvestment dollars, will partner university faculty and students with rural community leaders to better identify and address the needs of small, relatively isolated communities in the state. It is anticipated that the projects will utilize distance technology, share a common web site, host an on-line journal, and celebrate life in rural South Dakota.
...because rural roots run deep,                                 and rural ties are strong.