In an attempt to identify, synthesize, and evaluate shared services research and development efforts conducted throughout the nation, and bring those results together in a single report, Part One of a four-part report defines rural shared services and the organizational patterns under which shared service activity exists, describes the activities which focus on the needs of pupils and teachers, outlines activities which facilitate the educational program, and assesses the effects of sharing services. The report concludes that: (1) shared services have improved measurable human behavior in those studies which were controlled and subjected to effectiveness measurement; (2) of the 215 projects studied, each can now demonstrate expanded educational services; (3) cooperative purchasing and sharing services can provide materials and services at a lower per capita cost; (4) shared services can demonstrate an improvement in the quality of education within schools with no loss of autonomy by the local district; (5) shared service activity has little effect on whether districts do or do not reorganize; and (6) there is a recognized need for a more highly developed channel of communication among rural educators. Related documents are RC 003 403, RC 003 404, and RC 003 405. (DK)