What is an ESC?
Educational Service Centers (ESCs) were established in 1914 through an act of the Ohio General Assembly. The law created 88 County Boards of Education and charged them with the task of regulatory authority over school district budgets, personnel and curriculum.
The role of the county offices of education evolved and expanded over the next several decades. In the 1930’s, they began assisting districts with fiscal and purchasing services; later in the 1960’s, their responsibilities expanded again as they began operating special education programs and increased professional development and technical assistance for schools.
By 1995, County Boards were renamed “Educational Service Centers” – a statutory name change intended to reflect the evolving nature of ESC programs and services. The law also encouraged county offices to merge into regional agencies.
What is an ESCs Relationship to Public School Districts?
• ESCs are large-scale service providers offering administrative, academic, fiscal and operational support services to Ohio’s school districts.
• Educational Service Centers (ESCs) are local political subdivisions.
• Every district with enrollment of 16,000 students (ADM) or fewer is required to be aligned to an ESC. Districts are able to realign to a different ESC (anywhere in the state) every 2 years, consistent with the state budget process, if they are not satisfied with the services they are receiving.
• Districts may purchase services from any ESC at any time – even ESCs to which they are not aligned.
• ESCs are governed by publicly-elected boards of education. Keeping with the tradition of maintaining local control of public schools, ESCs operate under the oversight of a locally-elected Governing Board. The day-to-day operations of ESCs are conducted through ESC superintendents, treasurers, and other administrators.