Although much of education reform talk focuses on large, urban school districts, let’s not forget that 20 percent of U.S. students go to smaller, rural schools, which have their own academic achievement issues, according to the Rural School and Community Trust.

The presidential candidates, who are campaigning in the rural and early-voting states of Iowa and South Carolina, are mindful of this.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, a former U.S. Senator from North Carolina, today unveiled his plan to help rural schools. Among his ideas is to create a National Teacher University to attract those who will teach in rural schools. Edwards also wants to raise teacher salaries by $15,000 a year for those who teach in high-poverty rural schools.