This paper discusses the basic content of Titles I and II of Public Law 99-457: the Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act, and their implications for providing early intervention services to rural populations. "Title I: Services to Infants and Toddlers" discusses provisions of the law, its rationale, definitions of terms relevant to implementation of the law, the state plan to establish an interagency coordinating council, and required components of the statewide system for providing early intervention services. "Title II: Services for the Three--[through] Five Year-Olds" discusses sources of federal funding that will be lost by states that do not comply with Title II, provisions of Title II, and its funding levels. Implications of this law for rural districts include the generation of new revenue to serve children from birth to age 5, the option of contracting services from existing agencies and programs, regionalization of services, and the flexibility of allowable models for service delivery. Administrators are encouraged to become informed of their state's intentions in terms of compliance with the law, which is not mandated, and are urged to seek representation on advisory committees and on their state's interagency coordinating council. (JDD)