Helena, Mont. ? Education department heads from 11 states are meeting in Montana to address rural issues.

The education leaders will meet in Big Sky on Tuesday to address American Indian education issues, how to improve academic achievement in rural schools and ways to leverage resources.

Montana Office of Public Instruction Superintendent Denise Juneau says the participants also will learn about federal funding opportunties and address the “brain drain” in rural America.

Participating states include Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.