In November of 1975 then Massachusetts Commissioner of Education, Gregory Anrig, approved the initial agreement for the establishment of the Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative.  In accordance with the enacted legislature of Chapter 40, section 4E and Chapter 797 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the following school committees entered into the initial agreement: Southbridge, Webster, Auburn, Oxford, Dudley-Charlton and Tantasqua Regional School District plus Union 61 (Brookfield, Brimfield, Sturbridge, Holland and Wales).  In the school year 1992 / 1993 the school committee of the Quaboag Regional School District (Warren and West Brookfield) and Spencer-East Brookfield became member districts.  In 1996 /1997 the school committee of Millbury became a member districts, and then in the school year of 2004 /2005 the school committees of Northbridge, North Brookfield and Sutton became member districts.  Grafton also became a member district of the Collaborative joining in 2007.

The Southern Worcester County Educational Collaborative is governed by the Executive Board, comprised of one person from its own membership appointed annually by each member school committee.  The appointee may delegate their authority to serve on the Executive Board to the Superintendent of School in their district, or to the district's Administrator of Special Education.