This paper offers a variety of perspectives that can be used to consider the question of the relationships that are likely to develop between each new National Institute of Education (NIE) sponsored regional institution and other educational institutions in its region. Three broad logical structures that may help illuminate the question are examined. The first is regionalism. The examination of regionalism includes a review of types of regional institutions and of varying definitions of regionality. The second is the configuration perspective, which presents a view of the interrelationships of knowledge production and utilization (KPU) agencies in education. The third is alternative perspectives on organizing; this structure presents an examination of the research literature on organizations that challenges traditional, bureaucratic organizational models. The implications of the alternative perspectives on organizing for the management function of planning are examined. The major agencies functioning in educational KPU, their primary activities in the field, and their likely interactions with an NIE-sponsored regional organization are also studied. Finally, some recommendations based on this analysis are presented. (Author/IRT)