Small, sometimes multi-cultural, rural schools need specialized preservice teacher education programs to prepare teachers. After outlining the classroom, school, and sociocultural characteristics affecting a teacher's success and survival in a rural community, this paper discusses the apparent lack of rural content in teacher preparation programs nationwide. A review of topics covered by preservice teacher education programs and of teaching skills needed in small rural schools helps illustrate what is needed to improve preservice programs. The paper includes descriptions of nine rural preservice and inservice training programs in Hawaii, Alaska, Utah, Oregon, Montana, and British Columbia. The four Alaskan programs focus on the particular problems in recruiting and training teachers for remote Native villages. The paper includes five tables, 16 references, and two appendices covering rural education organizations and resources for multi-age classrooms. (SV)