Building a rural community-school development project where students engage in community-based learning experiences requires changes in the way schools prepare rural youth for the future. This publication examines the kinds of changes a school system must make before planning and implementing community-based learning strategies. Changes in perspective and changes in policy and practice are needed, with changes in perspective the hardest to achieve. Changes in perspective include: expanding ideas about the school's function in the community; rethinking the nature of teaching and learning; changing ideas about students' capabilities; and believing that change can happen. Changes in policy and practice encompass curriculum planning and instruction, assuring academic credit for community-based learning activities, facilitating student access to the community and community access to the school, transportation issues, scheduling issues, and legal considerations. A brief look at school-community initiatives in Balmorhea (Texas), Marshall (Arkansas), and Mora (New Mexico) suggests that two critical factors in the success of these initiatives are a belief in each individual's capacity to make a difference, and good antennae for detecting opportunity. (SV)