TO HELP RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES GROW BETTER TOGETHER BY INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE IN PLACE-BASED LEARNING LINKED TO COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; CONDUCTING RESEARCH AND ADVOCATING FOR APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR RURAL SCHOOLS; IMPROVING RURAL ACCESS TO HIGHLY EFFECTIVE EDUCATORS; AND INCREASING RURAL CAPACITY TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, AND SUPPORT APPROPRIATE INNOVATIONS.