The 20 education service centers in Texas are regional institutions designed to assist school districts with quality ideas, services, information, and teaching materials. This plan sets out the authority, governance, operations, and services that are to be provided by the service centers to school districts along with guidelines and standards. Sections discuss the following topics: (1) authority and purpose, (2) working arrangements, (3) governance, (4) programs and service, (5) organization, (6) administration and operations, and (7) accountability and sanctions. The appendixes list each of the services provided along with the purpose, authority, funding, and the state board goal and how it is to be achieved. Appendix A contains brief descriptions of the following required programs and services: Media, Computer Services, Special Education for the Handicapped, Accreditation, Curriculum, Training, Textbooks, and School Volunteer Program. Appendix B contains brief descriptions of the following services funded through or under agreement with the Texas Education Agency: Migrant, Educational Technology, and Adult and Community Education. Appendix C describes the following services that support statewide programs and that are funded through cooperative agreements with school districts: Gifted and Talented, and Bilingual Education and Special Language Programs. (MLF)