This document contains the full text of the conference keynote address and abstracts of conference papers. The keynote address--"Excellence in Rural Education: Our Heritage and Our Future," by Duane M. Nielsen--outlines: (1) demographic changes in rural America in the 1970s and 1980s; (2) the challenges facing rural education due to increasing educational demands and requirements and diminishing financial support; (3) issues of rural education needing further research and development; and (4) the activities of the U.S. Department of Education related to rural education. The section covering the general session contains 38 abstracts on such topics as school improvement, teaching methods, distance education, school community relationship, staff development, facilities construction and improvement, program development, computer or technology oriented programs, teacher and administrator turnover, and the strengths and problems of rural schools. The section covering science education contains 18 abstracts of papers on cooperative learning; teaching evolution; science education for elementary school students, out-of-school adults, preservice teachers, and nursing students; career guidance and counseling; science information networks; computer oriented programs; integrated activities; and student research. The section covering special education contains 12 abstracts of papers on gifted education, community based instruction, inservice teacher education, medical educational cooperation, program development, parent education, reading and writing instruction, and transition services. (SV)