Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Schools
Local Food Procurement Pathways: Key Drivers of Farm to School Participating Authorities Buying Directly From Farmers
Examines the factors impacting school food authorities' (SFAs) decisions when procuring local foods through Farm to School (F2S) programs. Analyzes trends in F2S procurement from 2018 to 2023, local food infrastructure, and SFA funding, sourcing, procuring, and serving of local foods. Includes supply chain data, use of local vendors, and procurement characteristics by SFA size and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): D. Adeline Yeh, Ashley Spalding, Christine Sauer, et al.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the factors impacting school food authorities' (SFAs) decisions when procuring local foods through Farm to School (F2S) programs. Analyzes trends in F2S procurement from 2018 to 2023, local food infrastructure, and SFA funding, sourcing, procuring, and serving of local foods. Includes supply chain data, use of local vendors, and procurement characteristics by SFA size and rural versus urban location.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): D. Adeline Yeh, Ashley Spalding, Christine Sauer, et al.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Association Between School Physical Education Practices and School Level Socioeconomic Status
Examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and school physical education (PE) practices. Utilizes School Health Map and National Center for Education Statistics data to analyze high-SES, moderate-SES, and low-SES schools according to PE practices as well as location of city, suburb, town, or rural.
Author(s): Sam Biver, Ben D. Kern, Hans van der Mars, Enbal Shacham
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(9), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and school physical education (PE) practices. Utilizes School Health Map and National Center for Education Statistics data to analyze high-SES, moderate-SES, and low-SES schools according to PE practices as well as location of city, suburb, town, or rural.
Author(s): Sam Biver, Ben D. Kern, Hans van der Mars, Enbal Shacham
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(9), e70217
Date: 09/2026
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Examining Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in Pennsylvania
Explores teacher shortages, supply, and demand in Pennsylvania rural and urban school districts from 2014-2025. Notes how rising student mental health needs are contributing to demand for teachers. Features statistics on vacancies from 2023-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Edward J. Fuller
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Explores teacher shortages, supply, and demand in Pennsylvania rural and urban school districts from 2014-2025. Notes how rising student mental health needs are contributing to demand for teachers. Features statistics on vacancies from 2023-2025, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Edward J. Fuller
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
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Impact of School Rurality on Fruit and Vegetable Selection Differs by Sex and Eating Duration for Arizona Schools
Analyzes how fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste vary by rurality, sex, and eating duration in Arizona schools. Uses data collected in Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools between 2017 and 2019.
Author(s): Mary Curnutte, Alaina L. Pearce, Marc Adams, Traci Grgich, Meg Bruening
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70208
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes how fruit and vegetable selection, consumption, and waste vary by rurality, sex, and eating duration in Arizona schools. Uses data collected in Arizona elementary, middle, and high schools between 2017 and 2019.
Author(s): Mary Curnutte, Alaina L. Pearce, Marc Adams, Traci Grgich, Meg Bruening
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70208
Date: 08/2026
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School-Centered Tobacco Retailer Exposure and Neighborhood Opportunity Across Urban and Rural Tennessee
Examines the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure in Tennessee, including differences by rural or urban areas and Appalachian status. Features statistics and county-level maps with shadings showing school-centered tobacco retail exposure and tract-level quintiles of the Child Opportunity Index state percentile.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 29-52
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the association between neighborhood opportunity and school-centered tobacco retailer exposure in Tennessee, including differences by rural or urban areas and Appalachian status. Features statistics and county-level maps with shadings showing school-centered tobacco retail exposure and tract-level quintiles of the Child Opportunity Index state percentile.
Author(s): Sima Namin, Jacob Black, Jennifer Ferris, Robert E. Heidel
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 29-52
Date: 08/2026
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Can Schools Detect Mild Hearing Loss? Evaluating Screening Accuracy and Feasibility
Examines the feasibility of accurate screening for mild hearing loss in rural Alaska. Analyzes results of screening 318 children with two pure-tone hearing screening levels and discusses the importance of accurate and reliable screening methods in rural schools.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Jasmine Stewart, Christina Reaves, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 207, 112849
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the feasibility of accurate screening for mild hearing loss in rural Alaska. Analyzes results of screening 318 children with two pure-tone hearing screening levels and discusses the importance of accurate and reliable screening methods in rural schools.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Jasmine Stewart, Christina Reaves, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 207, 112849
Date: 08/2026
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Health Career Knowledge Outcomes Among Rural High School Students: A Multi-Year Evaluation of a Regional AHEC Pipeline Program
Examines the educational outcomes for rural high school students enrolled in a regional Michigan AHEC Health Careers Pipeline Program (HCPP). Analyzes pre- and post-program survey data from 347 HCPP student participants between 2020-2025 and provides data on learning outcomes.
Author(s): Matthew Ruge, Jacob Surma, Jennifer Morneau-Wilson, April Osburn, Christopher Bobier
Citation: Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 13
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the educational outcomes for rural high school students enrolled in a regional Michigan AHEC Health Careers Pipeline Program (HCPP). Analyzes pre- and post-program survey data from 347 HCPP student participants between 2020-2025 and provides data on learning outcomes.
Author(s): Matthew Ruge, Jacob Surma, Jennifer Morneau-Wilson, April Osburn, Christopher Bobier
Citation: Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 13
Date: 07/2026
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Bridging the Gaps in School-Based Telehealth: A Scoping Review and Evaluation Framework
Provides a scoping review of telehealth interventions in K-12 schools between 2019 and 2026. Analyzes 22 studies related to school-based telehealth (SBTH) and discusses SBTH evaluation practices as well as utilization, satisfaction, and outcomes. Includes discussion of SBTH outcomes in rural locations.
Author(s): Sara Al-Ajlouny, Zhaoqiang Zhou, Suguna Kotte, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine Reports, 7
Date: 07/2026
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Provides a scoping review of telehealth interventions in K-12 schools between 2019 and 2026. Analyzes 22 studies related to school-based telehealth (SBTH) and discusses SBTH evaluation practices as well as utilization, satisfaction, and outcomes. Includes discussion of SBTH outcomes in rural locations.
Author(s): Sara Al-Ajlouny, Zhaoqiang Zhou, Suguna Kotte, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine Reports, 7
Date: 07/2026
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Results from the Annual Survey of School Food Authorities, School Year 2024-2025
Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Analyzes supply chain disruptions in School Food Authorities (SFAs), such as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP), from 2024 to 2025. Provides data on SFA supply chain challenges, food and labor costs, student participation, and more, with rural, suburban, and urban breakdowns.
Author(s): Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr, Allison Lacko
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
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Food Service Directors' Knowledge and Beliefs About Ultraprocessed Foods in California's San Joaquin Valley Schools
Examines food service director (FSD) perspectives on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) while planning meals for schools in the largely rural San Joaquin Valley of California. Utilizes interview data from 20 FSDs and discusses themes such as healthfulness of UPFs, scratch-cooked foods versus UPFs, and reasons for including or not including UPFs in school menus.
Author(s): Anjali Gupta, Alix Zuceth Duran Gomez, Donna Matheson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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Examines food service director (FSD) perspectives on ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) while planning meals for schools in the largely rural San Joaquin Valley of California. Utilizes interview data from 20 FSDs and discusses themes such as healthfulness of UPFs, scratch-cooked foods versus UPFs, and reasons for including or not including UPFs in school menus.
Author(s): Anjali Gupta, Alix Zuceth Duran Gomez, Donna Matheson, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 07/2026
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