In October 2019, the Public School Forum of North Carolina launched Study Group XVII: Supporting North Carolina's Rural Students. Building on the Forum's long history of exploring the most pressing issues impacting North Carolina's public schools, the seventeenth Study Group convened thought leaders from education, academia, policy, and business to delve into understanding and addressing the unique needs, challenges, strengths, and perspectives of students, educators, and families in the state's rural communities. The Forum hosted six Study Group convenings in Wake, Edgecombe, Robeson, and Rutherford counties. The regional meetings included panels of rural school district leaders, policymakers, and representatives from community colleges and universities, as well as facilitated discussions with attendees to envision promising practices and policy recommendations. From these discussions, the following four key areas of focus emerged: (1) teacher recruitment and retention; (2) broadband; (3) postsecondary attainment and workforce alignment; and (4) school funding. A list of recommendations was compiled based on discussions with more than 200 Study Group participants from across the state. The full list of speakers for all Study Group XVII meetings can be found in Appendix I, and the list of counties represented among Study Group Members can be found in Appendix II.