Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

This qualitative research study focused on the common factors that prohibit students from rural poverty attending school. The anticipated result of the study was to provide educational leaders of rural school districts strategies to use when attempting to increase attendance and academic success. School administrators, counselors, and teachers in high poverty rural schools in the State of Missouri were interviewed. The unique experiences of these professionals revealed that students of rural poverty have a lack of resources to meet essential needs. The administrators shared what their districts had done to meet essential needs. The interview of the teachers, social workers, and counselors provided practices school districts had implemented for families in efforts to increase attendance and academic success. School administrators were focused on trying to help students of rural poverty to break the poverty cycle and the generational hindrance of the poverty cycle. Rural school districts stressed the importance of building positive relationships between home and school and how that can make or break the educational success of children living in poverty. The study shares real-life applicable strategies for educational leaders of rural school districts to use when attempting to increase attendance and academic success of their students.

Share

COinS