What is an "ISD"?

About COOR Intermediate School District

C.O.O.R. Intermediate School District acts as a link between the Michigan Department of Education and local school districts. The ISD provides Special Education, Career and Technical Education, Early Childhood, and General Education programs and services.

Career Tech

We recently investing over $2.5 million state funds into our C.O.O.R. Advanced Technical Innovation Center, located adjacent to the Roscommon Middle School. This new centralized location still serves students from across the Intermediate School District. Learn about each program on our Career & Technical Education page. Most local districts are now offering transportation for CTE students. The Vocational Early Middle College options will continue to allow high school students to earn college credit on their transcripts in Welding, Automotive, or Criminal Justice at TUITION FREE for CTE/EMC students.

Child care for our local families

You can search for childcare by going to www.greatstarttoquality.org and clicking find child care or you can contact the Great Start to Quality Northeast Resource Center at 877-614-7328 to speak directly to a person.

Statewide Support

ISDs — which sometimes go by the name Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) or Educational Service Agency (ESA) — work with local school districts, the Michigan Department of Education, business and industry and community groups. They support student achievement and leverage limited resources in the following areas.

Teaching and Learning

ISDs offer literally thousands of professional learning sessions each year to educators, keeping them up on the latest research and teaching methods.

Specialized Student Services

Local school districts depend on ISDs to meet ever-growing needs in Early Childhood (0-5) and Parent Education, Special Education (birth to age 26), Career and Technical Education, Tech Prep, Career Preparation, Talent Development, Online and Digital courses, Math and Science programs, Early/Middle College, Student Activities, Extended Day, Alternative and Adult Education programs, and Court-Involved Youth and Homeless Education programs.

Shared Operational Services

Quality, efficiency, and cost containment are the hallmark of ISDs as they help districts share services in technology, instruction, transportation, business, communication and support services, teacher and school staff training, and purchasing.

For example, COOR ISD, which processes the billing for its local public school districts and two public school academies for Medicaid-eligible students receiving special education services, saved schools $ through Medicaid revenue.

Developing Partnerships

ISDs are often key partners in local economic development through their community ties with colleges and universities, businesses, industries, and human service agencies.  Many of these partnerships benefit our schools and students by readying them for 21st Century careers. 

School Improvement, Assessment and Mandates

In addition, each ISD customizes services to meet unique needs. Each ISD works with its local school districts to develop the mix of products and programs to maximize benefits for that area.