Kentucky is a state of extreme contrasts in virtually every area of human endeavor. Although it is a southern state, its black population is small and growing very slowly. The rich and the poor people are unequally distributed throughout the state. Because only half of the adults possess a high school diploma, one can assume that many Kentuckians are not avid readers, and only 57 percent vote in national elections. Politics have been localized, and schools have played the role of providing jobs for politicians. That era is coming to an end in most of the state, but the problems of an educational system heavily political in nature remain. While higher education has expanded and diversified in the last decade, the next decade will see further growth in adults returning for additional education, plus the possibility of increasing the percentage of Kentucky youth who graduate from high school. The ultimate cause of Kentucky's problems is rural poverty. A systematic attack on this issue (pulling together local, county, and state leadership) through a strategy focused on early childhood preschool programs would have the best chance for success. (24 references) (KM)