Citation:
Abstract:
Given the major disruptions to students’ daily lives as well as the education field more generally caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, NCRERN was interested in learning how its partner districts navigated mandatory school closures and the shift to online learning, as well as identifying ways that NCRERN could support the short- and long-term needs of rural educators. Throughout April 2020, NCRERN staff conducted semistructured phone interviews with district officials and other leaders from 40 out of its 49 partner rural districts in Ohio and New York. The majority of interviews took place when schools were 3–5 weeks into shutdown. Notes from each interview were coded by two graduate research assistants to identify major themes that emerged from the conversations. Because interviews were semistructured, not all districts answered each question; as a result, counts should be interpreted with caution.