Conference papers are clustered into three major categories: background--the past and future; current issues in rural and small school education; and individual and group roles in rural and small school education. Papers in the first category provide an overview of the basic changes in rural education, project a picture of rural education in the future, and look at research related to rural and small schools. Issues highlighted in the second section include school district reorganization, rural school finance, vocational education, rural cooperatives, career development, minority groups in rural and small schools, the myths associated with rural and small schools, population trends in Kansas, curriculum development, and teacher recruitment and retention. Papers in the third group identify the individuals and agencies that have been influential in rural education and suggest what the role of those individuals and agencies should be in the future. Papers cover the rural superintendent's role, leadership styles, political direction needed, the role of higher education, variables influencing rural students' college attendance, the relationship between the federal government and rural schools, the regional laboratory, the activities of People United for Rural Education, the role of interest groups, and the need for a strong education organization in Kansas. (CM)