(a)  The board of regents for elementary and secondary education shall adopt rules and regulations regarding all aspects of the educational collaboratives mission and goals.

(b)  Instructional education programs and/or administrative and/or best business practice plans will be submitted to, and approved by, the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

(c)  Each educational collaborative will submit a plan to the board of regents for approval by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, that will increase efficiencies and economies of scale in providing instructional services. The plan will incorporate best practices from business, reflect a regional approach and accompanying volume increase, and shall include, but not be limited to, measures concerning:

(1)  Teacher training programs and staff development;

(2)  Special education programs and diagnostic services required by law or regulation and related functions;

(3)  Programs for the gifted and talented;

(4)  Programs for students who are at risk of suspension or expulsion;

(5)  Development of shared instructional services;

(6)  Act as regional or statewide administrative unit, or enabling unit, or as a participant of a joint purchasing agreement or agreements established pursuant to § 16-2-9.2, for such functions as transportation, cooperative purchasing of food, and other noninstructional support services, such as the purchasing of oil, gas, electricity, health care contracts, supplies, payroll and other business operations, as may be appropriate;

(7)  Any other consolidation of services and purchasing that achieves efficiencies and cost savings.

(d)  An educational collaborative may contract with a school district that is not a participating member, or another educational collaborative. Districts may contract any of their functions, individually and collectively, in whole or in part, to a regional collaborative when such contracting will increase efficiencies and economies of scale in providing instructional and business services.

(e)  The board of regents should consider the progress made or planned as reported and provide for special grants to stimulate the formation of cooperative service arrangements, or a level of subsidy appropriate to launch or continue the operation of any cooperative service area.