In an effort to gather and share accurate information about health services provided to children in school districts throughout 18 rural counties of southwest Minnesota, a survey was developed and mailed to 200 public health nursing directors, elementary school principals, and superintendents (122 were returned). Questions sought information about the intensity of nursing services, duties of school nurses, costs of service, time available to students, perceptions about future directions of school nursing services, and perceptions of priority responsibilities and critical duties of a school nurse. All 122 schools responding provided some level of school health services, with time spent by the school nurse varying from 3 to 150 minutes per student per year. The cost of nursing services varied by district, with the average being $15.61. Nurses reported their priority responsibilities to be screenings and followup, maintenance of health records; referrals to other resources, health education, first aid and emergency care, and preventing and controlling communicable disease. Only 14 districts claimed special education financial reimbursement for health related services, although other districts are exploring or beginning to implement procedures for claiming such reimbursement. According to comments, more time is needed to train and supervise health aides, develop policy, provide health education, develop curriculum, increase contact with faculty and staff, become more involved with special education decisions, and increase home visits. A copy of the nursing services survey is appended. (LL)