TRADITIONAL INTERMEDIATE ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS, SUCH AS STILL EXIST IN SOME COUNTY OFFICES, HAVE CONTRIBUTED LITTLE TO SECONDARY EDUCATION. THE NEW INTERMEDIATE UNITS CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS REGIONAL SERVICE AGENCIES, PROVIDING SERVICES WHICH SCHOOLS (ESPECIALLY SMALL SCHOOLS) CANNOT ADEQUATELY OR EFFICIENTLY PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES. INTERMEDIATE UNIT ORGANIZATION AND ROLE ENCOURAGES INTERDISTRICT COOPERATION AND PARTICIPATION IN A WIDE VARIETY OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES. EXAMPLES OF THE SERVICES PRESENTLY BEING ADMINISTERED BY THESE UNITS ARE SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN, INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS CENTERS, DATA PROCESSING, CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP, COOPERATIVE PURCHASING, AND INSERVICE PROGRAMS. INTERMEDIATE UNITS DO NOT COMPETE WITH LOCAL OR STATE LEVEL OPERATIONS WHEN FUNCTIONS AND SOURCES OF FUNDS FOR EACH ARE CLEARLY DEFINED BY LAW. THIS ARTICLE APPEARS IN THE "NASSP BULLETIN," FEBRUARY 1966, PP.1-10. (DK)