Education and Rural Development.

A conception of schooling and its associated conception of educational policy, designed to join rural schools with their communities in a powerful force for rural development, are described in this paper. Information is presented in the form of answers to pertinent questions and covers the following areas: the revitalization of rural communities; the skills and competencies necessary to provide local people with the ability to utilize, coordinate, and direct the resources necessary to revitalize rural areas; the rural school as a revitalization force; and the changes in schools. The Rural Education Program's basic rationale and component activities are described in terms of environmental improvement for rural children, youths, and adults; community involvement; employment of trained consultants in rural schools; new curriculum development strategy; and educational policy reformation at the state and national levels. (PS)