Overview & FAQ
Education & Cooperation Grows Through Regional Education Associations(REA's)(formerly Joint Powers Agreements)
School districts across North Dakota are taking advantage of Regional Education Associations (formerly known as Joint Powers Agreements or JPA's) to improve educational services to students and to enhance cooperation in communities and geographic regions. As the map illustrates (courtesy of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction), regional education assocations now include more than 78% of all public school districts in the state, covering 85% of the land mass and improving services for over 82% of all public school students.
One of the newest REA groups, the North Central Education Cooperative (NCEC), includes 15 school districts and was developed based on what was previously known as the Bottineau County Consortium. While maintaining the high quality of services provided by the Consortium over the years, the REA allows the services to become stronger, more diverse and to reach more students in the region. At the official signing of the JPA on August 11 in Towner, Tom Decker of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (DPI) stated that the Department is reevaluating service delivery to focus on and enhance REA capacity to serve their member schools. Tom closed by sharing “As always, in the end, it’s what’s best for the students that matters. We can achieve that better and quicker together, than any one district can alone.”
The Great Northwest Education Cooperative (GNWEC) celebrated the beginning of their JPA with a signing ceremony on July 20 in Williston. A total of 14 school districts have joined the JPA and more are considering becoming members. Among those in attendance for the event were North Dakota State Senator Stan Lyson, Representative David Drovdahl and Superintendent of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Dr. Wayne Sanstead. Senator Lyson said that “It’s an important time in the great northwest” and his sentiments were echoed by Dr. Sanstead who said “You’ve expanded your cooperation, you will be indispensable to school districts and your range of services will be unlimited.”
On July 14, the Southeast Education Cooperative (SEEC) was formed by 18 school districts in southeastern North Dakota. Also playing a major role in the development of this REA are the cooperating parties including the North Dakota State College of Science, North Dakota State University and Tri-College University. Bill Goetz, Governor Hoeven’s Chief of Staff was on hand for the historic signing and commented “This is the kind of working together we need to do throughout North Dakota, not only with regard to education but also with regard to other issues like economic and community development, transportation and tourism.” Senator Gary Lee of Casselton also attended the event and noted that he has become such a strong supporter of REAs in education because he has seen significant improvements in efficiency and effectiveness in the medical community where hospitals and clinics, especially in rural North Dakota and Minnesota, have collaborated. He said he hopes to see those same kinds of outcomes with regard to REAs.