Rural women come from many ethnicities, enjoy diverse social economic statuses, different family circumstances, and various levels of educational attainment. Of the 34-35 million rural women, a large percentage are plagued by poverty and lack of opportunity for education, employment, health care, and various social services. Rural people, who constitute one third of this country's people, also make up half of the nation's impoverished. While a greater number of rural women are now employed outside the family, they tend to be employed in low-paying clerical, service, and seasonal positions. For women who are ethnic minorities, aged, single head of households, or displaced housewives, the isolation of rural life adds an additional burden. This paper recognizes the urgent educational needs of rural women; summarizes research and statistical findings on rural women in the areas of education, income, employment, and values orientation; points out some cultural conflicts and dilemmas that may occur as a result of short-sighted, fragmented, and hastily implemented educational programs; presents a global perspective of the education of rural women which calls for social and policy changes and is multidimensional, grassroots based, and oriented to the culture and people of rural America; and delineates the needs for research, for regional rural centers, and for federal support in rural women's education. (Author/NEC)