Public Law 94-142 requires that local education agencies (LEAs) generating less than $7,500 through the child count formula either submit consolidated applications or use the state education agency (SEA) to provide child services directly. A survey of state directors of special education in 50 states sought to address the status of interagency collaborations among rural school districts. Thirty-six of the states have legislated or regulated systems of collaboration among their local education authorities. Authorization for the systems are categorized under four legal processes: intermediate education units or boards of educational cooperatives, statutorily established consortia/cooperatives, state board of education-regulated centers or cooperatives, and other consolidated applications. School districts have developed interagency agreements not only to meet the $7,500 minimum provision but also to facilitate free, appropriate public education. Fifty-two percent of the SEAs were very satisfied with the ability of their present systems to address Public Law 94-142 compliance issues. An analysis of the perceived strengths and weaknesses among the types of collaborative systems identified seven clusters of positive characteristics and four negative characteristics. Implications for planning are also noted. (JDD)