Rural places are defined by their connectedness--close-knit, supportive communities that work together to meet the needs of children and families. But geographic isolation is another defining feature of rural places, one that often renders rural families invisible to nonrural Americans. Indeed, national conversations about the COVID-19 pandemic often overlook the nearly 7.5 million rural children in the United States. From food and housing insecurity and critical shortages in child care options to underreporting of child maltreatment and continued inadequate access to healthcare, the well-being of rural children and their families is particularly at risk as the pandemic continues. Balancing the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the need to keep rural children and families connected to essential services is at the heart of the challenges local and state officials face. Compounding this dilemma is the troubling message that the virus is not spreading in rural areas. In mid-November, 80 percent of U.S. rural counties were in the red zone, indicating a high level of infection and community spread. To address these challenges, developing and implementing innovative models that increase services to rural children and families should be a priority for state boards of education.