There is little question that state agencies can have a great deal of influence on collective bargaining. In many states, state departments of education have been actively involved in supporting, proposing, amending, or resisting collective bargaining legislation. State departments ought to come up with answers for streamlining laws and advancing the maturation level of the bargaining process. School board associations, administrators, and state agencies should consider options in streamlining legislation through the art of compromise to seek resolutions without giving up first principles. State agencies must be information brokers. The midst of a teachers' strike is no time for the state department to discover new laws or new interpretations of laws. Such interpretations must be identified in advance, so that everyone knows what role the agency will play. There is growing nationwide support among teacher unions for statewide bargaining. State agencies should oppose this trend and protect the public interest by supporting the resolution of critical issues at the local level. (Author/JG)