Giving Compass' Take:

• Allie Gross reports that rural schools are struggling to retain leaders, who are often not equipped to deal with the challenges they face. 

• How can funders help to support rural schools and their leaders? Can states better equip their school leadership? 

• Learn how leadership support for administrators makes a difference for students.

While Colorado has long been working to solve its teacher shortage problem, in recent years the state has increased efforts to address an equally important and growing issue — the retention of school leaders, specifically in rural communities, according to The Hechinger Report. This year a record 45 districts have welcomed new superintendents.

A 2014 survey found that half of all new principals quit their jobs within three years, and a 2018 survey found that rural principals are more likely to leave their schools and the profession altogether than their suburban and urban counterparts.

Some challenges for rural principals include persistent poverty, low-college going rates and extreme racial disparities in student outcomes, according to the article.

Read the full article about rural schools struggling to retain leaders by Allie Gross at Education Dive.