Ohio Valley ESC Receives 9th Consecutive High Performing ESC Designation from Department of Education and Workforce
October 28, 2024 – Each of Ohio’s 51 Educational Service Centers (ESCs) applied for and received the High Performing ESC designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW). To achieve the High Performing ESC designation, an ESC must generate total cost savings of at least 5% across five ESC-selected service areas for its client school districts as compared to the district providing the services themselves or from another third-party provider. The percentage of savings for Ohio’s ESCs far exceeds this 5% benchmark, averaging 39.32% savings in Fiscal Year 2024, based on data provided by the DEW.
“Ohio’s educational service centers provide their client schools and districts with exceptional services at reasonable costs,” says Craig Burford, Executive Director of the Ohio ESC Association (OESCA). “Over the past nine years, Ohio ESCs have averaged 35.95% cost savings to districts per year, for a total of over $687.6 million in savings statewide for primary services since 2016. Policy makers should take notice of the return on their investment and find additional ways to leverage the ESC network now and in the upcoming biennial state operating budget.”
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce evaluated each application based on the total percentage of cost savings the ESC generated for its client districts calculated based on the price charged to the client by the ESC for a primary service.
Ohio’s 51 ESCs are local education agencies (LEAs) or school districts that provide other schools and client school districts with professional development, technology, coaching and support, planning, and administrative services that help improve student learning, enhance the quality of instruction, expand access to resources, and maximize operating/fiscal efficiencies. The Ohio ESC Association (OESCA) supports, educates and advocates for Ohio’s ESCs. www.oesca.org
