Rural education is described in this paper in terms of its progress and problems. Among the problems, it is noted that money available on a competitive basis is generally out of reach of the rural school because of the lack of time and talent needed to obtain the funds. Teachers are often undertrained, holding "Life Certificates" earned with less than 4 years of college. Special services such as guidance programs and hot lunch programs are lacking because funds are not available to support them. Course offerings are limited due not only to class size but also to what the teachers who are employed can teach. Vocational education as related to fields other than agriculture does not exist, and 9 out of 10 students leave the farm without the training needed for employment in the city since course offerings serve only the college-bound student. However, some trends are described which hold promise for the rural youth. The number of 1-room schools is declining. Regional service centers or intermediate units are becoming new resources to rural areas, providing services such as diagnostic clinical facilities and specialized personnel. Ways to expand innovative programs in rural schools, as well as new programs designed for nonurban schools, are also discussed. (LS)