A trend toward increased use of interdistrict collaboratives to provide special education and related services has been noted over the past 2 decades, as school districts, particularly rural districts, face more complex educational demands. A survey of 50 state directors of special education found that 36 states have some form of state-governed interdistrict collaboratives among their school districts, and 33 of these states responded to a follow-up questionnaire. The forms of governance include intermediate education units, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, and other interdistrict collaboratives established by statute or state board policy. Results showed that 72% of the states with interdistrict collaboratives are rural. The most prevalent service provided to school districts by the collaboratives is personnel development, followed by direct child services and projects for full educational opportunity goals. Survey results also identified common characteristics of collaboratives felt to be functioning very satisfactorily by the state education agencies, versus characteristics for collaboratives viewed less satisfactorily. No particular type of governance structure was found to contain the keys for effective collaboration. An appendix cites state statutes establishing interdistrict collaboratives. (JDD)