John Sipple

Professor, Department of Global Development

About
Research
Teaching
Outreach
Grant Funded Projects

About

John Sipple's research focuses on the responses of public school districts and communities to changes in state and federal policy. Central to his work are issues of community and organizational change and how they relate to fiscal, demographic, and learning opportunities for students across racial, socioeconomic, and geographic lines. He studies and has directly served rural communities across New York State and he has conducted projects and research directly for the New York State Education Department. He teaches courses on the organizational, social, and political contexts of community vitality and the U.S. educational system.

Specifically, Prof. Sipple studies the linkages between the $600 Billion/year K-12 educational system and the vitality of communities. This includes problems and policies related to equity in state assessment, earlycare and PreK, demographic change, and recently the intersection of school-based health clinics and broader community well-being. Sipple leads an effort to put data in the hands of local decision makers via easy-to-use data tools. He provides a link between the Rural Schools Association and Cornell University.

Prior to Global Development, Sipple was part of Cornell's Departments of Education (1998-2011) and Development Sociology (2011-2020).

Appointments

Professor, Global Development
Director of Graduate Studies, Education (Minor Field)
Faculty Athletic Representative to NCAA and Ivy League
Editor in Chief, Community Development, Flagship journal of the Community Development Society

Areas of Expertise

Research: Sociology of Education and Organizations; Policy Implementation; Rural Studies, Community Vitality; Educational & Social Policy; Mixed and Quantitative Research Methods
Extension/Outreach: Community Development linked to Schools; Equity, Fiscal & Opportunity Analyses; Rural schools; Policy Implementation; Economic Development

Graduate Field Memberships

Development Studies
Education
Public Affairs
Cornell Center for the Study of Inequality, Faculty Affiliate
Atkinson Center, Faculty Affiliate

Education

1997, Ph.D. (Education), University of Michigan
1992, M.Ed., University of Virginia
1988, B.A. (Religion), Dartmouth College

Interests

Pk-12 education

Sociology of communities

Policy

Awards & Honors

2017 Cornell University CALS, Professor of Merit Award (student nominated)
2017 Juror, Brock International Prize in Education (nomination by Univ. Of Oklahoma)
2015 Friend of THE COUNCIL Award, New York State Council of School Superintendents.
2009 Howard A. Dawson Award, Top Research Paper at 2009 meeting of National Rural Education Association
2006 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Cornell University
2003 Appreciation Award, Rural Schools Association of New York State

Research Focus

Prof. Sipple studies the linkages between the $600 Billion/year K-12 educational system and the vitality of communities. This includes problems and policies related to equity in state assessment, earlycare and PreK, demographic change, and the intersection of school-based health clinics and broader community well-being. He leads an effort to put data in the hands of local decision makers via easy-to-use data tools. He provides a link between the Rural Schools Association and Cornell University through the work of the NYS Center for Rural Schools.

Research Projects

Enhancing the role of School-Based Health Centers in creating a community of health and well-being in rural communities. In partnership with Dr. Chris Kjolhede at the Basset Healthcare Network (Cooperstown, NY), we have used mixed-methods to identify unique strengths and weaknesses of schools and the healthcare facilities linking to and supporting families.
Assessing the Capacity of Communities to support Families and Economies through UPK Policy. Defining "Capacity" as the proportion of day-care and PreK slots available for age-eligible children in communities across New York State, we assess absolute and relative capacity of communities to serve children, families and economies. A mix of secondary data analysis and case studies, we have worked for a decade to establish clear links to poverty race, urbanity/rurality.
Impact of School Presence on Local Community Vitality: GIS-enhanced analyses. Using GIS, descriptive, and regression analyses, we are empirically testing and advancing the hypothesis (laid out by Prof. Tom Lyson) that the presence of a school is healthy for local communities. Using census data from villages, we replicate Lyson's binary model (have school or not) and then advance the modeling by creating gradients around each village centroid and assessing the impact of school proximity.
East Ramapo (NY) Monitor. NY State Education Commissioner, MaryEllen Elia, appointed three monitors to study and oversee the situation in East Ramapo, NY and then make recommendations to the State. I was reappointed in the summer of 2016 for a second year of Monitoring with Chuck Szuberla. East Ramapo and the takeover of the public school board by Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men was made famous by NPR's "This American Life" in 2014.

Publications

Sipple, J.W., Fiduccia, P. & LeBeau, K (In Press). The Role of Data in Rural School Research and Practice. Invited chapter for 2020 Handbook on Rural Education in the U.S. (Eds) Amy Price Azano (Virginia Tech), Karen Eppley (Penn State) & Cat Biddle (University of Maine).
Casto, H. G. & Sipple, J. W. (In Press). ‘Community-Aware’ Partnerships Between Schools and Rural Communities. Invited chapter for 2020 Handbook on Rural Education in the U.S. (Eds) Amy Price Azano (Virginia Tech), Karen Eppley (Penn State) & Cat Biddle (University of Maine).
Giroux, S., Eloundou-Enyegue, P., Sipple, J. W. & Tenikue, M. (In press). A Global equalizer? Education and the Recent Economic Convergence of World Countries. Annual review of comparative Education, International Perspectives on Education and Society, v39, pp. 113–133.
Sipple, J. W., Casto, H. G. & McCabe, L. M. (2020). Child Care Deserts in New York State: Factors Related to the Community Capacity to Care for Children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. p. 167-177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2019.10.007
Sipple, J. W., Francis, J. D., Fiduccia, P. (2019). Exploring the Gradient: The Economic Benefits of ‘Nearby’ Schools on Rural Communities. Journal of Rural Studies. 68, pp. 251-263. Special Issue: “Rural Inequalities Amidst Economic Crisis”. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.02.018
Casto, H. G., Sipple, J. W., & McCabe, L. M. (2016). A Typology of School–Community Relationships: Partnering and Universal Prekindergarten Policy. Educational Policy. 30(5), pp.659-687. DOI:10.1177/0895904814557770
Sipple, J. W. (2016). The Hippocratic need for adequate supports while merging programs: At first do no harm. Cultural Studies of Science Education. DOI: 10.1007/s11422-016-9752-6.
Avery, L. M. & Sipple, J. W. (2016). Common Core, STEM, and Rural Schools: Views from Students and States. in Fulkerson, G. M & Thomas, A. R. (Ed), Reimagining Rural: Urbanormative Portrayals of Rural Life. Lexington: Lanham, MD, pp. 123-145. ISBN: 9781498534062
Casto, H., McGrath, B., Sipple, John W., & Todd, L. (2016). “Community Aware” education policy: Enhancing individual and community vitality. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 23 (50). http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/epaa.v24.2148
Sipple, J. W. & Yao, Y. (2015). The Great Recession and its Impact on the Capacity of Rural Schools, in Williams, S. M. & Grooms (Ed.), The Politics of Educational Opportunity in Rural Contexts. Charlotte, NC: Information-Age Publishing. pp. 35-58. ISBN: 9781681232508
Sipple, J. W., Brent, B. (2015). Challenges and Strategies Associated with Rural School Settings. In H. F. Ladd & M. E. Goertz (Ed.), Handbook of Research in Education Finance and Policy (pp. 607-622). NY: Routledge.
Sipple, J. W., Montgomery, K. L., Atkins-Burnett, S. (2015). Major Issues in American Schools. In Allen-Meares, Paula (Ed.), Social Work Services in Schools (pp. 30-53). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Casto, H. G. & Sipple, J. W. (2011). Who and What Influences School Leaders’ Decisions: An Institutional Analysis of the Case of Universal Pre-Kindergarten in New York State. Educational Policy. 25(1), pp. 134-166.
McCabe, L. M. & Sipple, J. W. (2011). Colliding Worlds: Practical and Political Tensions of Prekindergarten Implementation in Public Schools. Educational Policy. 25(1), pp. e1-e26.
Brown, C. A., McCabe, L. M. & Sipple, J. W. (2011). Introduction: Crossing Boundaries and Colliding Worlds: The Politics of Prekindergarten Education. Educational Policy. 25(1). DOI:10.1177/0895904810387593
Evans, G. W., Yoo, M. J., & Sipple, J. W. (2010). The Ecological Context Of Student Achievement: School Building Quality Effects Are Exacerbated By High Levels Of Student Mobility, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30, 239–244.
Sipple, J. W. (2009). Major issues in American schools. In P. Allen-Meares (Ed.), Social work services in schools (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson. Ch. 1.
Sipple, J. W. (2009). Bolstering capacity for heightened state and federal standards? An Exploration of national, state, and school district staffing trends, 1986-2003. In Chris Roellke & Jennifer King rice (Ed.), The Costs of Accountability: Implications of High Stakes Education Policies on Resources and Capacity. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
Sipple, J. W. & Brent, B. (2008). Challenges and Opportunities Associated with Rural School Settings., in Ladd, H. F. & Fiske, E. B. Handbook of Research in Education Finance and Policy. New York: Routledge.
Sipple, J.W., McCabe, L.A., Ross-Bernstein, J, Casto, H. G. (2008). The push for Universal Pre-K in New York State: 1998-2008. Proceedings of the University Council for Educational Administration.
Sipple, J. W. & Casto, H. G, (2007). School-Based Health Centers in NYS, Research and Policy Brief, Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J. W. (2006). Major issues in American schools. In P. Allen-Meares (Ed.), Social work services in schools (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Killeen, K. M. & Sipple, J. W. (2006). The challenge of regional geography in upstate school reform. The Brookings Institution: Washington, DC.
Sipple, J. W., & Banach, L. (2006). Helping schools meet the mandates of federal policies: No Child Left Behind and other cutting edge policies. In C. Franklin, M. B. Harris & P. Allen-Meares (Eds.), School Social Work and Mental Health Workers Training and Resource Manual: Oxford.
Killeen, K. M. & Sipple, J. W. (2005). Mandating supplemental intervention services: Is New York state doing enough to help all students succeed? Education Policy Analysis Archives, 13(19). http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v13n19/.
Campo, S., Poulos, G. & Sipple, J. W. (2005). Prevalence and Profiling: Hazing Among College Students and Points of Intervention. American journal of health behavior. 29(2)., DOI:10.5993/AJHB.29.2.5
Sipple, J. W. (2004). Local anchors versus state levers in state-led school reform: Identifying the community around public schools. In W. K. Hoy & C. G. Miskel (Eds.), Educational administration, policy, and reform: Research and measurement (Vol. 3, pp. 25-57). Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.
Sipple, J. W., Killeen, K., Monk, D. M. (2004) Adoption and adaptation: School district responses to state imposed high school graduation requirements. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 26(2), pp. 143-168.
Brent, B. O., Sipple, J. W., Killeen, K. M., & Wischnowski, M. W. (2004). Stalking cost-effective practices in rural schools. Journal of Education Finance, 29(3), pp. 237-256.
Sipple, J. W. & Killeen, K. M. (2004). Context, Capacity, and Concern: A District-Level Analysis of the Implementation of Standards-Based Reform in New York State. Educational Policy. 18(3)., DOI:10.1177/0895904804265639.
Killeen, K., & Sipple, J. W. (2002). How have performance standards changed school district practice? Results from a statewide survey of New York State school districts. Educational Finance Research Consortium: Albany, NY. (available at http://www.albany.edu/edfin).
Sipple, J. W. (2004). Major issues in American schools. In P. Allen-Meares (Ed.), Social work services in schools (4th ed., pp. 1-22). Boston: Pearson.
Trumbull, D. J. & Sipple, J. W. (2001). Informal and untapped opportunities for professional development. An essay review of Ben-Peretz, M. & Schonmann, S. (2000). Behind closed doors. State University of New York Press: Albany, 2000.. Teaching and Teacher Education. 17(6).
Conroy, C. A. & Sipple, J. W. (2001). A Case Study in Reform: Integration of Teacher Education in Agriculture with Teacher Education in Mathematics and Science. Journal of Vocational Education Research. 26(2). DOI:10.5328/JVER26.2.206
Killeen, K. & Sipple, J. W. (2000). School Consolidation and Transportation Policy: An Empirical and Institutional Analysis. A Working Paper for the Rural School and Community Trust. http://www.RuralChallenge.org.
Killeen, K. & Sipple, J. W. (1999). Preliminary Analyses of rural school transportation costs. Report for the Rural School and Community Trust Policy Program.
Sipple, J. W. (1999). Institutional constraints on business involvement in K-12 education policy. American Educational Research Journal. 36(3). DOI:10.3102/00028312036003447
Sipple, J. W., Miskel, C. G., Matheney, T. M. & Kearney, C. P. (1997). The Creation and Development of an Interest Group: Life at the Intersection of Big Business and Education Reform. Educational Administration Quarterly. 33(4)., DOI:10.1177/0013161X97033004003
Riehl, C. & Sipple, J. W. (1996). Making the Most of Time and Talent: Secondary School Organizational Climates, Teaching Task Environments, and Teacher Commitment. American Educational Research Journal. 33(4). DOI:10.2307/1163419
Sipple, J. W. (1997). Toward an improved understanding of interest groups: A case study of business involvement in public education reform using political and institutional theories. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

Sipple continues to update and develop a suite of data tools. These tools are publicly available and free of charge and aim to democratize data, data visualization, and mapping. Using state of the art technologies, his team continues to be responsive to needs and requests from across NYS from officials, educational and community leaders.

Sipple was invited by NY State's Commissioner of Education in August of 2015 to serve as one of three Monitors for a troubled community and school district in Rockland county: East Ramapo Central School District. After a year of work studying and influencing local practice and state policy, they secured $3 million for the local school district. Sipple was reappointed as one of two Monitors in August of 2016 and again in June of 2017 for another year of study and service.

Sipple has a program of outreach that builds off his research program and focusses on the intersection of community development and the $600 Billion/year Educational System ($60 Billion here in New York State). This work includes the sharing of strategies municipalities and schools use to share services. It also focusses on the public policy issues of closing/merging schools and their impact on educational opportunity and community vitality.

Dr. Sipple's primary focus of outreach is in his capacity as Director of the New York State Center for Rural Schools which was established in September 2008. In this position, he works in support of the Rural Schools Association (RSA) of New York State, the state legislature, Governor's office, and the State Education Department. He has a lengthy and productive relationship with the RSA and serves as the research arm of the organization. The work of the Center emphasizes building connections between key constituents, capacity of local school districts as well as the state of NY, and research in support of all its activities.

A grant portfolio of over $1,680,000 as Principal Investigator

Sipple, J.W. (PI) & Tennyson, S. 2020-23-28

2020 - 2023

Hatch/Smith-Lever Federal Formula Fund: $80,500

“Enhancing the impact of School-Based Health Centers in New York’s Rural Communities.”

Sipple, J.W. (Subcontract) 159-87473

2019 - 2024

U.S. Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences, $210,000

The National Center on Rural Education Research Networks (of $10 million). A subcontract from Harvard University, Center for Education Policy. As Regional Partner, I will help facilitate New York State rural school districts participation in Center network, interventions and evaluation.

Sipple, J. W. (PI), McCabe, L. M. & Casto, H. G.

2017-2018

Project 2Gen Research Seed Grant, BCTR, Cornell University, $20,000

Capacity for Two Generation Care in Rural Communities: Implications of Educational Policy Community Characteristics on Head Start Program Trends

Sipple, J. W. (PI) 159-8362

2015-2018

New York State Education Department MOU, $112,290

Served as a State-Appointed Monitor for the East Ramapo Central School District. Provided fiscal analyses and recommendations for the District and NY State Education Department and Board of Regents. Three one-year contracts.

Kopko, K. (PI), Tennyson, S. & Sipple, J. W.

2016-2019

Hatch/Smith-Lever Federal Formula Fund, $105,000

“Enhancing the impact of School-Based Health Centers in New York’s Rural Communities.”

Sipple, J. W. (PI)

2017-2019

Internationalizing the Curriculum Grant, Provost Office, Cornell University, $13,750

“The Intersection of Local Schools, Community Development and Policy: U.S., Irish and Scottish Cases.” Grant from Global Cornell Funding to internationalize my course (DSOC 4710) Schools, Community Development and Policy Reform.

Sipple, J. W. (PI)

2017

Rockefeller Institute at UAlbany Contract, $7,000

To consult with Prof. Mike Hattery on the design, development, and implementation of a Statewide (NY) survey regarding the (re)organization and efficiency of BOCES.

Sipple, J. W. (PI), Blakely, R., Kay, D. 1597824

2016-2021

USDA Multi-State Project, $125,000

University-Community Intermediaries: Supporting Informed Decision-Making in a Polarized Context. Together with partners from five states, we will review all relevant literature, design and carry out multiple network analyses of individual communities engaged in polarized decisions.

Sipple, J. W.(PI) & Warner, M. 159-7602

2014-2017

CUAES – Hatch/Smith Lever, $87,000

Fiscal Stress and Creative Local Response. This project extends the shared-services project to directly examine the differential impact of fiscal stress by governmental agency and local demography.

Sipple, J. W. (PI) & Warner, M. 159-7422

2011-2014

CUAES – Hatch/Smith Lever, $105,000

A Census of shared and inter-municipal service agreements and partnerships. Provide an empirical basis for understanding the prevalence and variation of shared municipal partnerships.

Sipple, J. W. (PI) 68759

2012

New York State Education Department Contract, $19,966

Educational Opportunity Index - Definition and and Development.

Sipple, J. W. (PI)159-8140

2009-2011

New York State Senate, $175,000

To operate the New York State Center for Rural Schools.

Sipple, J. W. (PI) 137-8130

2008-2010

New York State Senate, $250,000

To establish and operate the New York State Center for Rural Schools.

Sipple, J. W. (PI) & Lisa McCabe 137-8150/60/70

2006-2009

Rural Education Advisory Committee (NY), $200,000

A Proper Diagnosis: Early Childhood Education in Rural New York State. Project to measure and assess the rate of implementation of and obstacles to quality childcare and pre-kindergarten services in rural New York State. – Three one-year grants ($35k, $80k, $85k).

Sipple, J. W. (PI) 137-6405

2005-2008

CUAES – Hatch Funding, $73,500

Rural Schools and Their Communities: Life After High Stakes School Reform

Sipple, J. W. (PI) & Kieran Killeen 137-45160

2003-2004

New York State Education Department/SUNY Research Foundation, $33,780

How New York State Schools have Implemented Academic Intervention Services.

Sipple, J. W. (PI) 137-41615

2002-2003

Spencer Foundation, $35,000

Local School Responses to Increased Graduation Requirements in New York State.

137-3150 (Sipple, J. W.)

2003

Hancock (NY) Central School District, $3000

Hired to conduct an analysis of their K-12 Program of Academic Intervention Services.

Sipple, J. W. (PI) & Killeen, K. M. 137-8307

2001 – 2002

New York State Education Department/SUNY Research Foundation, $33,780

Proposal to fund the development and implementation of a survey to document district programmatic and organizational responses to heightened state academic standards.

Monk, D. M. & Sipple, J. W. 137-7402

2000-2001

New York State Education Department/Penn State (sub), $33,780 ($11,470)

Adoption or Adaptation: NY State School Districts' Responses to State Imposed High School Graduation Requirements: An Eight Year Retrospective.

137-3150 (Sipple, J. W.)

2001

Southern Cayuga (NY) Central School District, $500

Gift to assist with analysis of the district’s student performance indicators and to promote the use of data analysis in improving classroom, school, and district policy and practice.

Sipple, J. W. 137-7402

1999 – 2003

USDA Hatch Research Grant, Cornell University, $45,000

To investigate public school district response to shifting environmental expectations.

Sipple, J. W. 137-3150

1999

SUNY-College of Environmental Science and Forestry, $2900

Awarded for an external evaluation of the "Environmental Community of Scientists" program.

Sipple, J. W.

1999 – 2001

Syracuse University and Marathon (NY) Public Schools, $15,000

Awarded to conduct an external evaluation of the “Upstate High Needs Rural Schools Consortium”.

Killeen, K., Sipple, J. W., Maxwell, L., Pendall, R.

1999

Clarence S. Stein Institute for Urban and Landscape Studies, $10,000

Funding to develop an interdepartmental lecture series and seminar for Spring Semester 2000. Involves Cornell University Departments of Education, Design & Environmental Analysis,, and City & Regional Planning.

Sipple, J. W.

1999

Rural Education Advisory Committee (REAC), $1500

Research Grant (January 1999). To study the impact of video-conferencing on the development of future school administrators.

Sipple, J. W.

1998

Rockefeller Center, Dartmouth College, $2500

Research and Teaching Improvement Grant: to study the response of the Vermont State Legislature to the Brigham VT Supreme Court decision and to improve instruction on state finance and legal policy.

Contact Information

261 Warren Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

(607) 255-3005

jws28 [at] cornell.edu

Outreach Activities

Reports & Studies

Sipple, J. W., Fiduccia, P. & LeBeau, K (2019, July). #RuralReality in NY State in 2019. The culmination of a 12-part series of data/maps/charts depicting the current reality of rural schools and the communities they serve in NYS. Available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335793379_Rural_Reality_in_NY_State_in_2019
Szuberla, C. & Sipple, J. W. (2018, October). Continuing Progress: 2018 Annual Report on the East Ramapo Central School District. A report to the New York State Education Department and New York State Board of Regents.
Szuberla, C. & Sipple, J. W. (2017, October). A Balanced Budget: 2017 Annual Report on the East Ramapo Central School District. A report to the New York State Education Department and New York State Board of Regents.
Szuberla, C. & Sipple, J. W. (2017, January). A New Beginning: A Report on the East Ramapo Central School District, January 24, 2017. A report to the New York State Education Department and New York State Board of Regents. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.13545.70245
Wolcott, D., George-Fields, M. & Sipple, J. W. (2015, December). Opportunity Deferred: A Report on the East Ramapo Central School District, December 2015. A report to the New York State Education Department and New York State Board of Regents DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.17020.54403
Sipple, J. W. & Dilani-Miller, A.C. (2014). Shared School Services: A Common Response to Fiscal Stress. Policy Brief published by the New York State Center for Rural Schools. Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J.W. & Blakely, R.M. (2009). School Consolidation: What do New Yorkers Think? Rural New York Minute, Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI) and the NYS Center for Rural Schools, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J. W., McCabe, L. M, & Ross-Bernstein, J. (2008). The Capacity of Early Childhood Care & Education in Rural New York State. Albany, NY: Legislative Commission on Rural Resources & Rural Education Advisory Committee.
Sipple, J.W., McCabe, L.A., Ross-Bernstein, J, Casto, H. G. (2008). Educational Services for Preschool Children in Rural New York State: Links among Community-based Organizations, Pre-kindergarten programs, and School Districts. New York State Rural Education Advisory Committee. July 2008.
Blakely, R.M. & Sipple, J.W. (2008). Are New Yorkers Satisfied with the Public Education in their Communities? Rural New York Minute, Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J.W., McCabe, L.A., & Ross-Bernstein, J. (2007). Assessing Capacity: Early Childhood Education in Rural New York State. Published report for the Rural Education Advisory Committee. Albany, NY.
Sipple, J. W. & Casto, H. G, (2007). School-Based Health Centers in NYS, Research and Policy Brief, Community and Rural Development Institute (CaRDI), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J. W. (2006). School-Based Health Care in New York State. Newsletter of the Rural Schools Association of New York State: Ithaca, NY
Ithaca City School District (2006). Equity Report Card: Holding ourselves accountable. A report co-sponsored by the ICSD and the Village at Ithaca: Ithaca, NY.
Killeen, K. M. & Sipple, J. W. (2006). The challenge of regional geography in upstate school reform. The Brookings Institution: Washington, DC.
Sipple, J. W., Benjamin, L., Faessler, L. (2003). Status of NYS Rural Schools in Meeting the NYS Regents and the Federal NCLB Standards. A Study prepared for the Rural Schools Association of New York State: Ithaca, NY. (Available at http://education.cornell.edu/rsp.htm).
Killeen, K., & Sipple, J. W. (2002). How have performance standards changed school district practice? Results from a statewide survey of New York State school districts. Educational Finance Research Consortium: Albany, NY. (available at http://www.albany.edu/edfin).
Killeen, K. & Sipple, J. W. (2000). School Consolidation and Transportation Policy: An Empirical and Institutional Analysis. A Working Paper for the Rural School and Community Trust. http://www.RuralChallenge.org.
Sipple, J.W. (2000). A study analyzing the relationships among school district staffing of teachers, district wealth, and higher learning standards in New York State. A Report prepared for the Rural Schools Association of New York State: Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J. W., Avery, L., Meyer, D. (2000). A final report on the evaluation of the Environmental Community of Scientists (ECOS) Project. Submitted to the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and forestry, Syracuse, NY.
Killeen, K. & Sipple, J. W. (1999). Preliminary Analyses of rural school transportation costs. Report for the Rural School and Community Trust Policy Program. Sipple, J. W. (1999).
Matheney, T. M., Sipple, J. W., & Miskel, C. G. (1996). Corporate business leaders for education excellence, 1989 - 1996: A history. Commissioned manuscript for the Michigan Business Leaders for Educational Excellence, University of Michigan.
Sipple, J. W. (1993). Goal 2: Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In Shank, P. (ed.) Major federal programs supporting the National Education Goals: An analysis. University of Virginia. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 366 060).

Presentations

Sipple, J.W. (2020, June 9). Getting Back to School: Collaborative Strategies for Reopening K–12 Public Schools in a Fiscal Crisis. Invited panelist along with Randi Weingarten (President of the American Federation of Teachers), Dan Domenech (Executive Director, AASA), and John McCarthy (Prof., ILR School). https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/work-and-coronavirus/online-training/webinar-getting-back-school-collaborative-strategies-reopening-k-12-public-scools-fiscal-crisis
Sipple, J. W. (2019, July). Enhancing and Studying School-Based Health Centers. Invited presentation to the Rural Schools Association of NYS.
Sipple, J.W. (2019, February). Data Enhanced Planning and Decisionmaking: Democratizing data for school and district leaders. Invited workshop for the Ulster BOCES. 19 Districts participated.
Sipple, J.W. (2018, December). The Democratization of Data: Serving BOCES, Districts, and Schools Across New York State. Keynote presentation to the New York State Data Analysis Technical Assistance Group (DATAG). Albany, NY. 250 participants.
Sipple, J.W. (September, 2018). Data Enhanced Planning and Decisionmaking: Democratizing data for school and district leaders. Invited workshop for the Nassau BOCES (am) and the Eastern Suffolk BOCES (pm). 28 districts participated.
Sipple, J.W. (September, 2018). Opioid Crisis in Rural Schools. Invited presentation to the Parent Education In-Service, organized by the Parenting Project at Cornell University. Ithaca, NY
Sipple, J. W. & Szuberla, C. (2018, March). Program and Budget Update on the East Ramapo Central School Distinct. Invited presentation to the New York State Board of Regents. Albany, NY.
Sipple, J. W. & Fiduccia, P. C. (2018, March). Data-Enhanced Planning and Decisionmaking. Invited Keynote presentation to the Winter Meeting of the Staff and Curriculum Development Network of New York State (S/CDN): The Instructional leadership arm of the thirty-seven Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and the Big 5 Cities in New York State. Albany, NY
Sipple, J. W. (2017, November 7). Historical Perspectives on Contemporary School Reform. Guest Lecture for Cornell Prison Education Program. Auburn State Penitentiary, Auburn, NY.
Sipple, J. W. (2017, September). The Future of Rural Schools: Rust, Renewal or Revolt? Invited presentation to the NYS Council of School Superintendents’ Fall Leadership Summit. Saratoga, NY.
Sipple, J. W., Kristen, B., Samantha, A., Bubble, T. (June, 2017). IVY-Plus Biannual Meeting of Admissions Officers, "The Long, Winding, Unpaved Path from Rural Schools to Higher Education", Invited, IVY-Plus, Ithaca, NY. (June 14, 2017.
Szuberla, C. & Sipple, J. W. (2017, January). A New Beginning: A Report on the East Ramapo Central School District, January 24, 2017. A presentation to the New York State Education Department and New York State Board of Regents. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.13545.70245
Sipple, J. W. (2017, January 17). Enhancing Data to Strategically Enhance Planning. Invited presentation to the Erie 2 BOCES District Superintendent Mtg. Angola, NY.
Sipple, J.W. (2016, August 18). Invited speaker at the Annual Retreat of the Herkimer BOCES. “Strategic Data Use & Planning. Blue Mountain Lake, NY.
Sipple, J. W. (2016). Cornell Municipal Clerks Institute, "Education Pipelines & Community Vitality”. CaRDI, Ithaca, NY. (July 16, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., Blakely, R. & Kay, D. L. (2016). University-Community Intermediaries: Supporting Informed Decision-Making in a Polarized Context. Invited presentation to the New York State Association of Counties Legislative Conference, Albany, NY. Feb 2.
Wolcott, D.W., George-Fields, M., Sipple, J. W. (2015). Opportunity Deferred: A Report on the East Ramapo Central School District. A report and presentation to the New York State Board of Regents, December 14, 2015.
Sipple, J. W., East Ramapo Monitor Public Forum, "Updates and Listening Session", Invited, NYS Education Department, Spring Valley, NY. (October 1, 2015).
Sipple, J. W. (2015, October). “Informed Decision Making in Highly Contentious Arenas.” Presentation given at the National Conference of County Association Executives, Point Clear, AL. October 22.
Sipple, J. W. (2015). Leadership Meeting of the Orange-Ulster BOCES, "Data tools to inform local planning", Invited, Orange-Ulster BOCES, Goshen, NY. (May 3, 2015).
Sipple, J. W., Schultz, E., Slifkin, E. (2015). GST Regional School Board Mtg., "Student Performance Data in the GST BOCES: Assessing the Past, Preparing for the Future", Invited, Greater Southern Tier BOCES, Corning, NY. (April 30, 2015).
Sipple, J. W. (2015). Horseheads CSD Board of Education Retreat, "Informed Decisionmaking: Development and use of data tools", Invited, Horseheads CSD, Horseheads, NY. (January 5, 2015).
Sipple, J. W. (2014, December). Local Fiscal Stress: State Austerity Policy and Creative Local Response. Invited Talk ”Schools and Fiscal Stress in NYS”. CaRDI, NYSUT, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Sipple, J. W., Rural Research Symposium, "Trading Fiscal Insolvency for Educational Insolvency", Invited, Northeast and Islands Regional Lab, Concord, NH. (October 30, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., Four Counties School Board Association Fall Meeting, "Linking School District and Community Responses to Fiscal Constraint", Invited, Four Counties School Board Association, Geneva, NY. (September 30, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., New York State Association of Counties Fall Conference, "Fiscal Constraint and Creative Local Response", Invited, NYS Association of Counties, Buffalo, NY. (September 24, 2014).
Sipple, J. W. & Mouilleseaux-Kunzman, H., Cornell Municipal Clerks Institute, "Municipal Clerks Conference - Workshop on education pipelines and community development. CaRDI, Ithaca, NY. (July 16, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Association of NYS, "Trading Financial Insolvency for Educational Insolvency and other Sticky Trends. Keynote talk at RSA conference. Cooperstown, NY (150 people)", Invited, Rural Schools Association of NYS, Cooperstown, NY. (July 14, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., Municipal Exchange (MIX) Summit on Fiscal Stress, "Shared municipal and school services in NYS: Recent Evidence", Invited, MIX (NYS Association of Counties, NYS Association of Towns, NYS Conference of Mayors, NYS School Boards Association), Albany, NY. (June 17, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., Chautauqua County School Boards Association Spring Dinner, "Educational Insolvency & Fiscal Stress", Invited, Chautauqua County School Boards Association, Jamestown, NY. (May 8, 2014).
Sipple, J. W., State of Upstate Cities Conference, "Demographic Change and School Fiscal Stress", Invited, CaRDI, Ithaca, NY. (March 25, 2014).
Sipple, J. W. (2013, October). “Shared Municipal and School Services.” Presentation given at the National Conference of County Association Executives, Florida Keyes, FL. October 24.
Sipple, J. W. (2013, October). “Educational Insolvency.” Keynote presentation, Rockefeller Institute of Government symposium on Fiscal Stress, Albany, NY. October 13.
Sipple, J. W. (Author Only), Annual Meeting of the NYS Council of School Superintendents, "Shared School Services", NYS Council of School Superintendents, Saratoga, NY. (October 2013).
Sipple, J. W. (Presenter & Author), Rockefeller Institute of Government Symposium on Fiscal Stress, "Educational Insolvency", Rockefeller Institute of Government @ U-Albany, Albany, NY. (October 13, 2013).
Sipple, J. W. (2013, September). Shared School Services.” Presentation to the NYS School Board Association, Saratoga, NY. September 22.
Sipple, J. W. (2012, October), RELNEI Executive Leadership Meeting, "App Development to Maximize Utility of State Data", Regional Education Lab of the Northeast and Islands, Boston, MA. (October 23, 2012).
Sipple, J. W. (2012, October), "Shared Services, Data Tools, and Communities", Presentation at the National Conference of County Administrators and Executives, Williamsburg, VA. (October 17, 2012).
Sipple, J.W. (2013, July). “Responses to Fiscal Stress in New York State: Data Tools and Shared Services.” Keynote presentation of the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress Symposium on School Closures, Kingston, NY. July, 31.
Sipple, J. W. (2012), NYS Comptroller's Leadership Institute, "NYS's Schools and Communities in Times of Fiscal Stress", NYS Office of the State Comptroller, Syracuse, NY. (June 20, 2012).
Sipple, J. W. (2011, December). Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Settings. Keynote address at the Capital Area School Development Association Rural Summit. Albany, NY. (100 local education and community leaders)
Sipple, J. W. (2011, December). “Economic Impacts of Schooling in Rural Communities.” NYS Educational Conference Board, Annual Meeting. Albany, NY. (200 academic, state and local education and community leaders)
Sipple, J. W. (2011, September). Participant in a NYS Board of Regents/State Education Department School Finance Symposium. Albany, NY (100 state and local leaders)
Sipple, J. W. (2011, December). Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Settings. Keynote address at the Capital Area School Development Association Rural Summit. Albany, NY.
Sipple, J. W. (2011, August). Participant in a NYS School District Reorganization Conference, Syracuse, NY (100 state and local education leaders)
Sipple, J. W. (2009, August). Participant on a panel at the NY State Comptrollers Conference for Local Municipal Leaders. Ithaca, NY (25 municipal leaders).
Sipple, J. W. (2009, 2010, 2011, July). Presentation at the CaRDI’s Summer Clerks Institute. Ithaca, NY (20 municipal clerks).
Kiley, L. K. & Sipple, J. W. (2009, July). Leading During Times of Scarcity: Changing Conditions at the Top of the State. Presentation to 250 rural school leaders, Lake Placid, NY, July.
Sipple, J. W. (2009, June). Current Challenges for Rural Schools in NYS. Keynote presentation to the Greater Southern Tier BOCES Annual School Board Dinner. Watkins Glen, NY. (100 school board members and Superintendents).
Sipple, J. W. (2009), REAC Showcase, "REAC Funded Study on Early Childcare and Pre-K Education: Policy Recommendations", Rural Education Advisory Committee, Albany, NY. (March 12, 2009).
Sipple, J. W. & Kiley, L. (2009, March). Small School District Summit, Sponsored jointly by the NYS Center for Rural Schools, NYS Rural Schools Association, and REAC. Syracuse, NY. (120 school leaders, members of the Board of Regents, and REAC). I was the principal organizer.
Sipple, J. W. (2008), National Rural School-Based Health Symposium, "Schools, Communities, and the Need for Collaboration", Basset Hospital, Cooperstown, NY. (October 18, 2008).
Sipple, J. W., McCabe, L. M. & Casto, H. G. (2008). Annual Meeting of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, "The Push toward Universal Pre-K in Rural Schools: Trends, Successes, and Challenges", Rural Schools Association of New York State, Cooperstown, NY. (July 12, 2008).
Sipple, J. W., Eberts, P., Brady, S., Kiley, L., (2005-2007). Dropout prevention: Information and Caution. Two-day workshop for superintendents, principals, and teachers at BOCES throughout the state, organized by the Rural School Association of NYS. (18 workshops to date, with audiences ranging from 25 to 90 administrators and teachers).
Sipple, J. W. (2007, October 23). Invited presentation to the Ithaca High School PTSA. “NCLB: What is it and why should be care.” (30 parents, teachers, and administrators).
Sipple, J. W. (2007, July 11). Broadening the Boundaries of Rural K-12 Schooling Invited presentation at the Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, Cooperstown, NY. (150 superintendents and school board members)
Sipple, J. W. (2007, February). Public Schools, Communities, and Institutions: A Decade of Reform in New York State. Department of Development Sociology Faculty Colloquium.
Sipple, J. W. (2006, July 11). School-Based Health Centers: What are they and how do I get one? Invited presentation at the Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, Cooperstown, NY. (150 superintendents and school board members)
Sipple, J. W. (2005, July 12). NYS Rural Schools: how are we doing? Invited presentation at the Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, Cooperstown, NY. (150 superintendents and school board members)
Sipple, J. W. (2004, July 13). Staffing trends in an era of heightened state and federal standards, 1992-2002. Invited presentation at the Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, Cooperstown, NY. (150 superintendents and school board members)
Sipple, J. W. (2004, April 23). Invited discussant comments at one-day conference, Now What? Affirmative Action and Higher Education in 2004 and Beyond, co-sponsored by the Cornell Center for the Study of Inequality and the Cornell Law School.
Sipple, J. W. & Killeen (2003, December 12). The implementation of Academic Intervention Services in New York State public schools. Meeting of the Data Analyst and Testing Analysis Group (DATAG). Albany, NY. (60 data analysts and school administrators)
Sipple, J. W. (2003, November 11). The implementation of New York State learning and graduation standards, 2000-2003. State University of New York, Cortland, NY. (150 student-teachers and faculty)
Sipple, J. W. (2003, November 11). The implementation of New York State Learning and Graduation Standards, 2000-2003. State University of New York, Cortland, NY. (100 student teachers and faculty)
Sipple, J. W. & Killeen, K. (2003, September 26,). The implementation of Academic Intervention Services in New York State public schools. Fall Symposium of the Educational Finance Research Consortium, Albany, NY. (75 statewide organization leaders, State Education Department Officials, Regents, Faculty).
Sipple, J. W. (2003, July 15). A Statewide study of rural school districts: Implications for standards reform. Annual Conference of the Rural Schools Association of New York State, Cooperstown, NY. (100 superintendents and school board members)
Sipple, J W. (2003, April 11). Presentation to the Organizations Working Group, Department of Sociology, Cornell University.
Sipple, J. W. (2003, March). New York standards reform: Implications for new teachers. Keynote Address, Syracuse University School of Education Professional Symposium: “Meeting the challenge of No Child Left Behind.” (300 student-teachers, teachers, and faculty)
Sipple, J. W., Killeen, K. M. (2002, May). How have performance standards changed school district practice? Results from a statewide survey of New York State school districts. Spring symposium of the NY State Educational Finance Research Consortium. Albany, NY
Monk, D., Sipple, J. W., Killeen, K. (2001, December). Presentation to the New York State Board of Regents on the state of school district response to the new learning and graduation standards.
Sipple, J.W. (2001, October). Invited address for the Rural Schools Association of New York State Annual Breakfast at the Annual Meeting of the New York State School Boards’ Association, Buffalo, NY. (500 school board members and superintendents)
Sipple, J. W., D. Monk (2001, May). Adoption and adaptation: New York State school districts' responses to state imposed high school graduation requirements: An eight year retrospective. Spring symposium of the New York State Educational Finance Research Association, Albany, NY. (100 people – Agency Leaders, SED officials,
Sipple, J. W. (2001, May) Panel presentation for Leadership Tompkins on the "The Future of our School Systems”.
Sipple, J. W. (2001, April). Panel Presentation at the Alternative Community School (ACS), Ithaca City School District, Ithaca, NY.
Sipple, J. W. (2001, March). Panel presentation at the New York State Education Department symposium on the Achievement Gap in Rural Schools, Ithaca, NY. (200 school leaders and Regents)
Sipple, J.W. (2000, September). Applying research to administrative problems. Workshop presentation at the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning's (McREL) Rural Symposium, Aurora, CO.
Sipple, J. W. (1999). New York State Standards and Assessments: Impact on the Board of Education's role in the community. Keynote presentation given at the Annual Dinner of the Cayuga-Onondaga School Board Association (May 27) and the Cortland-Madison School Board Association (October 5).

John in the news

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December 13, 2022

Polson Institute grants accelerate global development initiatives

The Polson Institute for Global Development announced its fall 2022 grants to support research at the intersection of systemic inequality and social-environmental justice.

Polson Institute for Global Development
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September 13, 2019

Cornell CALS co-hosts event to foster rural workforce development

To better understand and address these complex issues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Agency is conducting listening sessions across the country to brainstorm more effective ways to keep rural areas vibrant...

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