The paper summarizes the first year (1983-84) of a 3-year rural education project entailing collaboration between the College of Saint Rose (Albany, New York) and rural chief school officers (CSOs) to improve service to handicapped students. Project objectives are listed: to improve education of mainstreamed handicapped students by helping CSOs plan staff development programs, utilize expertise of rural CSOs to improve preservice curriculum at the College, provide practicum and student teacher settings to address the unique needs of handicapped students in rural schools, provide preservice students the opportunity to serve as "rural interns," and provide a model program for other teacher training programs. Problems of serving handicapped children in rural areas are discussed. Project organization is described, including the orientation meeting with participating CSOs from 15 target school districts, and the first of 3 regional cooperative meetings between CSOs and high-level administrators from their districts, grant staff and consultants, and members of the College's Rural Task Force. Organization for the project's subsequent years is covered. Project results for the year are noted, including success as a catalyst and facilitator of inservice training to rural CSOs and formation of the Rural Task Force. The project's Needs Assessment Instrument is appended. (MH)