On September 26th 2008, Governor Paterson signed S-7124/A-10201 creating the New York State Center for Rural Schools, to be housed at Cornell University. Supported by the Senate, Assembly, the Governor and the Bi-Partisan Legislative Commission on Rural Resources, this Center has galvanized interest across the state. By statute, the Rural Education Advisory Council (REAC) serves as the Advisory Board for the Center for Rural Schools.

The New York State Center for Rural Schools aims to be a leader in solving systemic problems and improving opportunities, practice, policy for rural schools and the communities they serve. The Center is working with many partners to assist rural communities and the state of New York to (re)create socially and economically vibrant communities across the state of NY.

Communities across the state are experiencing declining population, changing demographics, declining property values, increasing property tax rates, increasing healthcare and pension fund costs. Communities are also challenged to support improvements in their public schools to meet the new Regents Learning and Graduation Standards implemented in 2000 and federal requirements through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Moreover, during the 2008 legislative session, a proposal to cap school property tax increases to 4% per year gained momentum. Finally, in 2008, Governor Paterson accepted final reports from two commissions, the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness and the Commission on Property Tax Relief, the second of which calls for the merger of all distircts with fewer than 1000 students. It is in this context the Center aims to provide timely and valuable service to New York State.

Goal 1 - The Center will help build connections between rural schools and their communities, the broad resources of Cornell University, other univerisities in NYS, key partners including the Rural Schools Association of NYS, the Rural Education Advisory Committee, Transfering Success, and a broad range of organizations that can provide assistance to rural communities.

Goal 2 - The Center will build data capacity to reduce the costs to researchers and school and community leaders to conduct their own evaluations and research.

Goal 3 - The Center will facilitate research on the interplay between community and economic development, school organization and improvement, short and long-term educational outcomes, and labor markets.

Goal 4 - The Center will assist Cornell faculty and other interested parties to secure private grants to better serve and study rural communities.