Sterling Public Schools is leaving the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative.

That might sound like a bunch of bureaucratic mumbo jumbo, but this pending divorce could have real effects. Years ago, districts started these cooperatives to provide better services to children with special needs.

The co-ops spread the high expense of special education among a number of districts; through economies of scale, they reduce per-student costs. It’s especially expensive for smaller school districts to provide such services, which is why cooperatives are so important for students and taxpayers.