THE COUNTY SCHOOLS OFFICE IS A STATE AGENCY WITH CONSIDERABLE LOCAL AUTONOMY. IT IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO ADMINISTER SERVICES TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TO COORDINATE COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THEREBY HELPING TO ENSURE EQUALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. A REVIEW OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY'S SCHOOLS OFFICE REVEALS 12 "CENTERS" DEFINED AS COMBINATIONS OF MATERIALS AND TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL, ORIENTED TOWARD A SINGLE SUBJECT OR A COMPLEX OF SUBJECTS (ADMINISTRATION, PROBLEM SOLVING, SPECIALITIES, PRODUCTION, OPERATION, METROPOLITAN, STATE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TRADING, EVALUATION, AND COORDINATION). CONFERENCES AT WHICH COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS ARE ASKED TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS OF SERVICES LEAD TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF LARGE PROBLEM AREAS AND TASKS TO BE PERFORMED IN THE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEMS. INCLUDED ARE 10 GENERAL PROBLEMS SUPPLIED TO SUCH A CONFERENCE OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS, A PRIORITY LIST TO HELP COUNTY OFFICES ESTABLISH SERVICES AND MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS EVALUATION, AND A LIST OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SCHOOLS OFFICE. THIS SPEECH WAS PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RURAL EDUCATION, DIVISION OF COUNTY AND INTERMEDIATE UNIT SUPERINTENDENTS (OCTOBER 6-9, 1963, DETROIT, MICHIGAN). (DK)