The National Rural Education Association (NREA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the interests of schools and educators in rural and sparsely-populated areas of the United States. The NREA is a membership organization that operates as a tax-exempt, non-profit entity. It is directed by an elected executive committee consisting of national representatives of rural school administrators, rural school teachers, state education agencies, educational service agencies, higher education, rural district school boards, and at-large constituencies. The NREA has approximately 8,000 voting and non-voting members from all 50 states.
Purpose
Article III, Section 1 of the NREA bylaws states, "The purpose of the Association shall be the improvement and the expansion of educational opportunities for children in rural communities throughout the United States and the world." To this end, the NREA lists the following as its stated objectives: To serve as a national advocate and representative for rural education at all levels: Local-State-Regional-National To provide coordination, at the national level, for rural education programs and activities To provide leadership for rural education-related conferences and workshops To provide a forum for all those involved in public education in rural areas-including teachers, administrators, board members, and members of the rural community at large whereby they may come together professionally and exchange ideas. To promote state, regional and local delivery systems which bring about efficient and effective education for children in rural areas To encourage the collection and dissemination of promising practices, statistical data, and other appropriate information relating to rural education as well as coordinating the sharing of services and resources among educational organizations and agencies To encourage colleges and universities to develop materials and resources specifically for rural schools and to train school personnel to work more effectively in small schools To stimulate discussion, research, and policy development regarding equal educational opportunities for all students To stress the need for public and private agencies to develop specific educational materials and technology appropriate to children in rural areas
History
The history of the organization can be divided into several sections.
The early days, 1907-1945
The NREA was founded in 1907 by 28 individuals who petitioned the board of directors of the National Education Association for approval as a new department within the organization. Its title for the next ten years was the Department of Rural and Agricultural Education. The first president of the new organization was elected in 1908 at the NEA meeting in Cleveland, Ohio. For the next ten years, with one exception, the presidents of the new department were presidents or deans of agricultural or normal schools or land grant colleges. The one exception was a superintendent of schools.
In 1918 three professional groups, the National Association of State Supervisors and Inspectors of Rural Schools, the County Superintendent section of the NEA, and the National Association of Personnel Engaged in Preparation of Rural Educators joined the Department of Rural Education. For the first time, agricultural education was no longer included in the title of the organization and there was an evident change in the leadership of the organization in the succeeding ten years. During that period, only six of the presidents were from colleges or universities and only one of those six was associated with an agricultural school. The other presidents of the Department of Rural Education were school administrators.
New alliances, 1946-1975
The group representing rural educators continued as a viable organization through two world wars and a devastating depression. There was a national meeting every year and the group annually elected presidents to lead the organization. In 1946 at the annual meeting of the rural educators in Des Moines, Iowa, the first meeting of the Division of County and Intermediate Unit Superintendents (CIUS) was held and the group elected a president. The two groups continued as separate organizations; however, by 1957 the business meetings of the rural education group were held at the County and Intermediate Unit Superintendents (CUIS) annual meeting which always preceded the annual meeting of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). During these years the presidents of the Department of Rural Education were local and county superintendents and education professors.