Understanding the education agendas being promoted by state and federal politicians is critical in comprehending the factors affecting rural education. Equally important is developing an effective rural school improvement strategy that is viewed favorably by policymakers. Five areas represent the focal points of state and federal education agendas: (1) restatement and subsequent institutionalization of the national interest in education as evidenced by adoption of Goals 2000; (2) creation of a rigorous accountability system linked to federal funding that involves development of national standards for curriculum content, student performance, school responsibility for providing conditions necessary to achieve proficiency in the content standards, and teachers' and administrators' professional development; (3) emphasis on states pursuing systemic reform encompassing standards, curriculum, assessment and accountability, governance, professional development, higher education, finance, cross-agency collaboration, and diversity; (4) development of a national educational technology policy and creation of an Office of Educational Technology; and (5) renewed interest in addressing diversity in public education. Developments associated with state and federal education agendas will likely result in significant benefits to rural schools. For example, greater use of technology could improve instructional programming and staffing features of rural schools, greater involvement of postsecondary institutions could result in programs designed specifically for teachers and staff specialists working in rural school systems, and rural schools could become community learning and service centers designed to meet the needs of rural communities. (LP)