This brief summarizes the findings from a study that surveyed principals of rural schools nationwide that were designated as in need of improvement and that used the transformation model under the federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) program. It provides information about the use of SIG funds in rural areas and is designed to help state leaders as they assist schools in implementing current SIGs, create new statewide models for SIGs, and modify current requirements for rural schools. The study was not part of the federal evaluation of the SIG program, which provides more comprehensive information about SIG schools. [For the full report, see ED565803.]