The New Jersey Mainstream Inservice Project is described as a response to the mandate of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) for a comprehensive system of personnel development. The model stresses collaboration between the state department of education, 50 local school districts, and five institutions of higher education to provide regular educators with the skills and understanding to deal with exceptional children. Among problems confronted by the model were the state department's sole financial authority, limited personal association, and controversy over the use of the Discrepancy Evaluation Model. Eight implications of the project include the importance of building in support systems within and among collaborating institutions and of incorporating enough time for planning in the roles of staff members. (CL)