This handbook presents a snapshot view of the use of telecommunications technologies to deliver instruction to distant audiences of K-12 students in the United States. The information is intended specifically for people who work in and with small, rural, or remote schools. Available technologies and programming vary widely in offerings and quality. Before selecting a particular program or distant learning system, administrators must consider the issues of the system's purpose, who controls the system, costs, course offerings, scheduling, class size, level of teacher-student interaction, qualifications and evaluation of teleteachers, qualifications and duties of classroom facilitators, and grading and routing class materials. Thirteen types of interactive distance learning technologies are described, and typical costs are outlined. Details are provided on specific programs and projects that use audio conferencing, audiographics teleteaching, fiber optics or microwave, instructional television fixed services, and direct satellite broadcasts. Only limited research on the effectiveness of K-12 distance learning has been completed. This handbook reports available evidence on student achievement, instructional effectiveness, administrator and student satisfaction, teaching methods, teacher-student relationship, and cost effectiveness. Advantages and disadvantages are outlined for satellite, audiographics, and two-way full-motion TV delivery. The final chapter discusses the opportunities that distance education is providing to rural areas and the ways in which it changes the ongoing debate about small rural schools. This book contains 30 references and an annotated bibliography of 35 documents about distance education that are in the ERIC database. (SV)