Abt Associates' concluding report on its research of the federally funded Experimental Schools (ES) program identifies educational needs in rural schools, introduces the substance of the ES program, and presents the major findings of the research in terms of the dynamics of rural school districts and the design and implementation of federal programs to facilitate rural school improvement. The report discusses 9 areas of concern in understanding the sociocultural context of rural schools which can both facilitate and constrain the educational change process, and defines 12 problem areas likely to be faced by program planners and project officers involved in designing and implementing federal programs in rural school districts. The researchers conclude that programs and procedures which are successful in urban and suburban districts should not arbitrarily be applied to rural school districts, and suggest that the federal government reconsider the special needs and characterizations of rural school districts in light of the findings of the ES research. Appendices include bibliographies of project reports, writings, and papers, as well as a description of each of the 10 rural ES districts. (JD)