Difficulties in recruiting and retaining rural special educators relate directly to deficiencies in teacher preparation programs, which are not providing their budding professionals with appropriate instruction to insure success and survival as rural special educators. In December 1982, a National Consortium of Universities Preparing Rural Special Educators was formed to participate in the development of curriculum designed specifically for rural preservice programs. Also, 37 universities and colleges across the country agreed to field test 10 preservice curriculum modules developed by the National Rural Project and to modify them to suit their needs, with the modifications recorded via cassette tape logs. The modules are based on competencies designed for infusion into ongoing special education programs, and include personal development skills and effective survival strategies, alternative instructional arrangements and delivery systems for low-incidence handicapped students, involving citizens and agencies of rural communities in cooperative programming for handicapped students, working with parents of handicapped students, working with peer professionals in rural environments, creative resource identification, and a rural preservice simulation. Personnel specifically trained to work with rural handicapped populations will have greater personal as well as professional success. Ninety-two curriculum elements to be included in preservice modules are listed. (MH)