Founded in 1976, West Kentucky Educational Cooperative currently serves 26 rural school districts in far western Kentucky. These districts – which include 80 elementary schools, 34 middle schools, and 30 high schools – represent 70,000 students and more than 5,600 certified staff members.

WKEC is one of eight educational cooperatives formed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1976 to optimize district expenditures for goods and services. Since that time, WKEC's services – provided by a staff of 60 – have expanded to include teacher professional development, administrator training, special and adult education, grant writing, and unified purchasing.