This report reviews research on rural education produced between 1986 and 1993. The review focuses on equity of educational opportunity; financial, curricular, and staffing issues; research agendas; and educational reform. The literature demonstrates that educational opportunity for rural school populations often is substandard, especially when compared to those in urban settings. The difficulties involved in achieving educational equity in rural areas include eliminating disparity in educational funding, reaching an agreement on what constitutes a rural school district, and finding alternative ways to provide educational services to special student populations. Frequently cited as a major problem is the recruitment, training, and retention of teachers in rural school districts. This is compounded by geographic isolation for both teachers and administrators in rural areas. Another concern is the need for school personnel to receive additional training to increase awareness of rural school and community relations. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Education has established a commitment to promote educational parity in rural schools. To strengthen this commitment, the federal government must establish research priorities through the development of empirical databases on rural education policy and practice. Current research on rural education reveals that most, if not all, of the solutions provided by educational policymakers fail to recognize the unique differences and needs of rural settings. Contains 47 references. (LP)