THE 83 INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MICHIGAN HAVE BEEN RECONFIGURATED AND NOW INCLUDE ONLY 60. INTERMEDIATE DISTRICTS ARE THE MIDDLE ECHELON OF A STATE SYSTEM OF SCHOOLS MADE UP OF A STATE EDUCATION OFFICE, NUMEROUS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND LESS NUMEROUS INTERMEDIATE DISTRICTS. THESE INTERMEDIATE UNITS ARE SERVING THE OPERATION OF MODERN SCHOOLS WHICH REQUIRE SPECIALIZATION AND A HIGH DEGREE OF COMPETENCE WITHIN SPECIALTIES. OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS BEING PROVIDED BY THE INTERMEDIATE UNITS INCLUDE--(1) FLEXIBILITY AND LOCAL ADAPTATION, (2) EASIER IMPLEMENTATION OF STATEWIDE OBJECTIVES, AND (3) AN AMELIORATION OF THE STATE PROBLEM OF ADMINISTRATIVE SPAN. THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN "JOURNAL ON STATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT", VOL. 1, NO. 1, SPRING 1967. (ES)