The use of educational technology in rural schools can maximize the natural advantages of rural schools and alleviate the disadvantages. Rural schools often face geographic isolation, shortages in specialized staff, low student enrollments, small numbers of special needs students, limited program offerings for students, and limited opportunities for staff development for teachers and administrators. In 1992, the National Congress on Rural Education identified barriers to the improvement of rural education in the areas of funding, provision for special circumstances of rural education, staff development, adequate and qualified teaching personnel, administrator work overload, and remedial education. Technology can overcome or alleviate these barriers. Technology available for rural schools includes personal computers and software, and distance learning and telecommunication technologies, such as audiographics, two-way interactive television, electronic mail, electronic bulletin boards, online databases, and information networks. Library technologies offer specialized CD-ROM discs for reference services and telecommunications networks for online library searches. Technology use in rural schools should be evaluated in terms of whether or not it serves the purpose for which it is employed and what data supports the evaluation. To make successful improvements, rural school leaders must establish a climate of trust and openness, evaluate and screen the various possibilities for improvement, and provide administrative and financial support for the change effort. (KS)