Rural school districts unite to support students without waiting for outside help

This article was originally featured in The Hechinger Report and is re-shared with permission.

In Durango, Colorado, over thirty high school students began their summer break with outdoor activities like rock climbing, mountain biking, and fly-fishing before diving into an immersive learning experience.

The students participated in a weeklong workshop focused on climate and the environment conducted by mountain researchers. They engaged in activities like creating seedballs with grass seed, clay, compost, and sand to aid in the restoration of native plant species in areas affected by wildfires. They explored the Hermosa Creek watershed and Animas River, learning about aquatic life and water restoration efforts.

The hands-on tasks were aimed at preparing the students for potential career paths related to environmental conservation and biological sciences, with many having already taken advanced environmental science courses.

Meanwhile, other students in the region were engaged in crash courses in health sciences, allowing them to earn college credit in areas like emergency medical services and nursing, while some were enrolled in programs for early childhood education and teacher preparation.

One student, Autumn Schulz, expressed her enthusiasm for the outdoor learning model and her passion for ecology, having already gained practical experience through internships in relevant fields.

Prior to 2020, the Bayfield, Durango, and Ignacio school districts operated independently. However, as the pandemic prompted discussions on school reopening, a coalition of nine rural districts in southwest Colorado emerged to collaborate and enhance educational opportunities for students, aiming to guide them towards college and high-paying careers.

Across the United States, rural schools face challenges in providing diverse academic opportunities due to factors such as teacher shortages, limited budgets, and restricted access to career-oriented programs. However, the coalition in Colorado, supported by higher education and business partners, has successfully expanded pathways for students in career and college readiness programs.

The Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative has leveraged over $7 million in public and private funding to create programs facilitating student exploration of various career fields, inspiring similar initiatives at a statewide level. The coalition’s future hinges on securing sustainable funding and advocating for policy changes to foster continued collaboration among rural schools.

Jess Morrison, the former executive director of the collaborative, emphasized the necessity of regional collaboration in addressing educational inequities and bolstering career pathways for rural students.