Educational Service Districts (ESD's) are unique to Washington and Oregon. An ESD is not the same thing as a school district. A single ESD may service dozens of different school districts. They are established to allow school districts to work, plan, and buy equipment collectively.
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Washington State ESD's
There are nine statutory regional service agencies in the state of Washington. Created by the legislature more than 30 years ago, the expressed purpose an ESD is to assure equal educational opportunities for quality education and lifelong learning for all. In addition to acting as a liaison between local districts and the State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to deliver programs mandated by the state, Washington’s ESDs are public entities, which operate in a highly entrepreneurial fashion. In Washington State the many ESD entities have cooperated to create the Washington School Information Processing Cooperative, also called WSIPC.
Oregon ESD's
Oregon's Education Service Districts work to provide the various counties' school districts with a wide array of educational programs and services, many of which are too costly or limited in demand for a single location. By coordinating a program or service among multiple districts, Oregon ESD's is able to moderate costs.
Scope of Service
It includes but is not limited to curriculum; instructional support and assessment; business operations; transportation; youth employment; printing; public relations; data processing; payroll; fingerprinting; network support; a statewide K-20 computer network; traffic safety education; construction management; preschool programs; homeless transportation; para-educator training; and special education.
External links
- Washington State ESD 101 website
- Washington State ESD 105 website
- Washington State ESD 112 website
- Washington State ESD 113 website
- Washington State ESD 114 website
- Washington State ESD 123 website
- Washington State ESD 171 website
- Washington State ESD 189 website
- Washington State ESD 121 website
