Education in rural schools is alive, working to provide quality education through different organizational configurations, and experiencing many changes as it strives to meet the needs of all rural children for a quality education. In the nurturing of rural schools, the State must assist in making it possible to adequately finance justifiable small rural schools; assure quality preparation of teachers and administrators to serve in rural areas and adequately plan for continued staff development; assist in the coordination of providing additional educational services such as special and vocational education to rural schools; provide support for curriculum development; encourage rather than mandate high performance standards; provide for dissemination of research findings and programs that work; and finally, and perhaps most important of all, recognize and accept rural education as a vitally important part of the state's educational system. In concert with all the actors on the rural scene, state departments of education must work to equalize financial burdens and compensate rural school districts for costs associated with small scale and sparsity. (BRR)