The summary of discussion from a 1980 Baltimore (MD) conference on implementing P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, in rural areas focuses on the problems facing special education in rural, remote, and isolated areas and suggests action for change. Work group recommendations are discussed for three main topics (sample subtopics in parentheses): cost effective service delivery approaches (staff development and effective use of personnel, parental and community involvement, community particiption, cost effective communications, cost effective energy and transportation strategies, and cost effective child find strategies); personnel retention and recruitment (incentive strategies, professional and community support, inservice training and staff development, and teacher retraining and educational options); and ways to capitalize on positive rural attributes and attitudes (working with parents and children in the rural community and changing public opinion). (CL)