The document reports several policy options that address the issue of educating autistic children in rural and sparsely populated areas. A description of autistic children relates numerous problems, confusions, and disagreements about the nature and course of the handicap including lack of agreement about definition and treatment. The most effective treatment purported by the authors is an eclectic educational program combining elements of behavior modification programs and psychoeducational procedures. Policy options for classifying and counting autistic children and for provision of service are described next, with advantages and disadvantages indicated. The federal classification of autistic children with "other health impaired" is seen to allow much flexibility in programing according to the individual child's behavior and therefore, has advantages not offered by any narrowly focused label. Categorical and generic programs of service are analyzed with specific attention to five issues: availability of service, quality of service, cost effectiveness, personnel preparation, and parent participation. The generic option is supported as the most advantageous in four of the five issue areas. The categorical program option appears to be better suited to parent participation. A list of references to selected professional literature completes the report. (Author/SB)