Wherever a community school exists, it is devoted to the improvement of the people's quality of living. Its curriculum reflects the problems of the surrounding area Educational activities of both children and adults are often organized around the school. The school program becomes the community program as teachers, administrators, and parents work together to better life for all. Where the quality of living is being improved, the school program is based on the principles that (1) good learning experiences utilize and grow from the child's own environment; (2) education is more effective when directed toward the improvement of living; and (3) it is important that the school program be sufficiently flexible and varied so each child may have the opportunity to grow to his maximum capacity. The Department of Rural Education, National Education Association, requested descriptions of good rural community school developments from selected persons in the United States and other countries. The descriptions in this 1960 publication, designed to familiarize rural educators with some rural community school practices, are from the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Libya, Jordan, Norway, Australia, Israel, Bolivia, Egypt, and the United States. They pertain to living standards, school curriculums based on needs and resources, adult education, colleges, teacher education, government agencies, and cooperative planning for school and community improvement. (NQ)