Membership in OESCA and participation in association events provides Business Members with access to our members and the more than 25,000 employees they represent statewide. OESCA offers numerous opportunities for Business Members to meet our ESC members face-to-face. Our major meetings attract key education leaders throughout the state--the decision-makers you want to reach.

Promotional opportunities, conference sponsorships and tradeshow exhibition opportunities can introduce companies to new prospects as well as strengthen existing relationships. These opportunities also allow our members knowledge of and access to innovative and/or time-tested solutions to the challenges that face educational service providers on an ongoing basis. 

Interested in becoming an OESCA Business Member? Download the Overview and Application, which contains additional detail about the program and instructions on how to become a Business Member.

2023 OESCA BUSINESS MEMBERS

Better Lesson Better Lesson supports every educator in developing the next generation of resourceful, compassionate, and resilient learners through comprehensive professional learning programs that work.

Zearn Zearn is nonprofit educational organization behind Zearn Math, which supports teachers with research-backed curriculum and digital lessons proven to double student academic growth across all levels of student proficiency.

Find Your Grind Find Your Grind flips the script on traditional life and career planning to focus on a lifestyle-first approach. Through self-discovery, lifestyle design, and building a career readiness toolkit, students will begin to match their skills, talents, values, and interests to the future of work.

Boardworks Boardworks is a turn-key library of interactive resources to enrich K-12 instruction that seamlessly integrates highly interactive and customizable activities into classroom and online lessons.

SORSA Schools of Ohio Risk Sharing Authority (SORSA) is a non-profit, member-owned consortium, providing Property, Bus Fleet and Educator Liability insurance for public schools in Ohio. We are governed by public school administrators and managed by insurance professionals. You can be confident that SORSA is working to make sure your coverage is broad and specifically designed for schools.

Rachel Wixey & Associates Rachel Wixey & Associates is a privately held HR service firm devoted strictly to schools and educational service centers. Our strength, expertise, and long-standing experience is as recruiters in the field of education. Our core services are in Substitute Scheduling, Substitute & Staff Recruitment, Payroll Management and Employment. We're recruiters. It's who we are; it's what we do.

ClassLink ClassLink is a global education provider of identity, access and analytics products that create more time for learning and help schools better understand digital engagement through access to apps and files with single sign-on, streamlined class rostering, automated account provisioning, and actionable analytics.

Enervise Commercial HVAC and Plumbing Contractor Enervise is the HVAC service, maintenance, installation, building automation controls, and plumbing expert of choice for the region’s premier healthcare, education, industrial institutions and commercial office buildings. The Enervise team of 110 employees earns customer loyalty through its total commitment to smooth and efficient operation of the client’s building. As trusted advisors, Enervise empowers facility owners and operators to optimize their building energy and operating performance.

Typing.com Typing.com is a free typing program built for teachers that helps students of every level learn valuable technology fundamentals. Students learn to type at their own pace with gamified lessons and student-led progression. Educators can manage class and student-level settings and meet student needs with timed tests, custom lessons, auto reporting and more.

Reading Horizons Reading Horizons supports educators with powerful tech-enabled foundational reading instruction that helps all students reach reading proficiency by the end of third grade. The Reading Horizons method is aligned to the science of reading, empowering educators with an evidence-based teaching method that prevents and remediates reading difficulties.

Rocket PD RocketPD is on a mission to create the world's largest community of educators, with the best professional learning experiences anywhere. Connect your team with the most inspiring educators on the topics that matter – from anywhere.

abl abl's actionable analytics platform and leadership training increase each student's access to college and career readiness pathways, maximize districts' use of resources, and empower school leaders to meet district goals.

Ohana Solutions Ohana Solutions is a thought leader in comprehensive, K-12 educational teaching and learning solutions.  With our portfolio of high-quality curriculum and technology-based alliances, Ohana Solutions is investing in transformative content and delivery technologies for collaborative curriculum solutions.

The Purple Star Award recognizes schools that display a major and purposeful commitment to PreK-12 students & families connected to our nation’s military. There are more than 525 Purple Star Schools in Ohio – a nationwide network now exists to exchange best practices and new ideas with local educators. Any Ohio public, private, religious, independent, charter (elementary, middle, junior high, high) school with PreK-12 students enrolled, can apply. This includes preschools and career-technical centers. In March of 2022, Ohio has also implemented the Collegiate Purple Star.  Applications for the upcoming Class of Purple Star Schools will be accepted from November 1 to December 15, 2023. Awardees are announced each April, the Month of the Military Child. The Purple Star website will post the application November 1. Purple Star Website (detailed information on Purple Star schools and application requirements) Questions: PurpleStar@education.ohio.gov ESCs are being asked to promote this information to their client districts.

 

 

 The Ohio Department of Education and Attendance Works are offering a NEW 6-part series on core attendance strategies and addressing the rising rates of chronic absence. These sessions are designed for educational service centers (ESCs) and state support teams (SSTs) and focus on building on and expanding the work they are doing with school districts to decrease chronic absenteeism and increase student engagement using evidenced-based prevention and early intervention strategies.

These free interactive regional sessions will be offered virtually during the 2023-24 school year and are designed for SST and ESC staff based on results from ESC/SST survey completed last winter. 

• The 90-minute sessions will be offered through the regional SST quads.

• Each session will include 45-minutes with ESCs and SSTs together, breakout sessions tailored for ESC and SST staff, and collective sharing of best practices and learnings.

• Additional consultation sessions available for participants after each regional training.

Each ESC and SST is encouraged to register at least two people who can attend all 6 sessions. All ESC and SST staff are welcome including Family and Community Partner liaisons, family engagement staff, attendance support staff, social workers, attendance officers, PBIS- and SEL-focused staff, One Plan staff, leadership consultants and more.

• Get more information on all 6 sessions, including registration links for the first three sessions. Participants are encouraged to attend their regional session but are welcome to attend the same session with a different region.

• Download the Ohio Attendance Guide

 

Questions: Patrick Hickman, Ohio Attendance Advisor 

The Ohio Department of Education, in partnership with Zearn, is providing an online differentiated learning opportunity to accelerate math learning for Ohio students in grades 6-8. To support Ohio educators with providing differentiated middle school math support, the Department is offering free access to Zearn Math, a top-rated math learning platform to reinforce and deepen grade-level learning. Zearn Math provides high-quality instructional materials, including digital math lessons with built-in differentiated support right when students need it. All Ohio districts and schools serving students in grades 6-8 may begin onboarding in the fall, with access to resources beginning in the winter and continuing through June 30, 2025.

INFORMATION:

• Program details, informational slide decks, vendor overview webinar registration: https://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/Mathematics/Resources-for-Mathematics/Accelerating-Learning-in-Mathematics
• Zearn information and resources: https://about.zearn.org/ohio

Zearn’s approach is to work with students to continue to move forward at grade level while also catching up. Under the initiative, eligible schools service grades 6-8 and are traditional public, chartered nonpublic and community schools. Schools and districts opt in to participate. 

Participating schools/districts get access to a digital platform, training and tech assistance. Access is available January 2024. There will also be “Anchor schools”. Anchor schools receive more intensive supports - onsite training, coaching, additional materials. Anchor schools start now (prior to other schools); the selection process for anchor schools was based on a math intent survey sent out by the Department this past spring and by a review of report cards and related academic achievement related data.

HOW THIS EFFORT INCLUDES ESCS:

• OESCA and ESCs are being asked to communicate on program, webinars, etc.  ESCs are being asked to include Zearn in superintendent, building administrator, and curriculum director meetings locally.
• ESCs are being asked to go through training to support their client districts and schools in implementation.
• ESCs, where appropriate, may go through the training side-by-side with the anchor schools.
• ESCs are NOT being asked to be trainers; this is NOT a train-the-trainer model.
• OESCA is being asked to provide a venue to share information via biweekly Superintendent meetings, Reframing Education network, and the OESCA Fall Conference.

September 25-26, 2023
Renaissance Polaris-Westerville-Columbus

         NEW! FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA

OESCA's Fall Conference - Connect & Collaborate - is where educational service centers (ESCs) and state and national organizations come together for networking, professional learning, state initiative updates and resource sharing. Speakers will cover a number of topics related to Future Forward Ohio and other critical challenges currently facing ESCs and their client school districts. The conference also provides opportunities for job-alike networking, regional meetings, and conversations with your colleagues across Ohio.

PRESENTERS:

This annual professional learning experience and membership meeting includes:

• state and national speakers including national educational service agency leaders, AESA representatives, and Ohio Department of Education leaders
• ESC-led breakout sessions
• expert panels
• regional and job-alike networking

BREAKOUT TRACKS:

1. Overcoming Obstacles to Learning - addressing barriers preventing students from engaging in learning, such as attendance, technology access and mental health.
2. Accelerating Learning - advancing learning through programs like after-school and summer programming, tutoring, and supporting districts in using high-quality instructional materials (HQIM).
3. Preparing Students for Future Success - helping students transition to their next stages through programs like transition to work, workforce development, career exploration, college readiness, credentialing, and apprenticeships.
4. Executive Leadership - providing ESC Superintendents with information on executive leadership and related challenges and opportunities.
5. Finance & Operations - providing ESC Treasurers, Human Resource Officers and related staff with presentations on fiscal and operational issues of importance to ESCs and their client schools and districts.
6. Technology - providing presentations on topics specific to ESC IT/technology staff (not for Ed Tech-related).

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

    

EXHIBITORS:

 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
Click for online Hotel Group Rate Reservations or call the hotel at (614) 882-6800 and mention our group by name (OESCA Connect & Collaborate Conference Sep2023) for group rates. DO NOT book through a third-party site (e.g., Orbitz, Expedia, Hotels.com, etc.). The OESCA room block expires September 4, 2023.  Please reserve your hotel room today to secure the conference room rate of $164 per night.  

 

REGISTRATION FEES:

$400 per OESCA/OTESCA Member - every 5th attendee may attend at half off (members will be billed at a pro-rated rate of $360 per person for a 5-person team)

$450 per Non-Member

 

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 11, 2023 - registrations received after the deadline are subject to a $25 late fee per registrant. Refunds will be given for cancellations made in writing on or before September 15, 2023.  

 

LEARN MORE:

• Register
• Sponsors/Exhibitors | Info | Application Form
• Hotel Group Rate Reservations (614) 882-6800 Group: Connect & Collaborate Conference SEP2023
• View 2022 conference highlight video

2023 OESCA Spring Conference & Annual Meeting
April 17-18, 2023
Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center, 100 Green Meadows Drive South, Lewis Center, OH

This annual professional learning experience for Ohio educational service center (ESC) staff features state and national speakers, ESC spotlights, expert panels and Ohio Department of Education updates. The conference also provides opportunities for job alike networking.

• Download Conference Program
• Download Jeremy Anderson's Presentation "State Education Policy Trends and Ohio"
• Download Dr. Susan Tave Zelman's Presentation "The Buying and Selling of American Education"
• Download Brian Sigritz's Presentation "Fiscal Condition of the States"
• Download Sherry Birchem's Presentation "Extended Learning & Recovery Grants and High-Quality Instructional Materials"

REGISTRATION: 
Registration is $399 per OESCA/OTESCA member (5th attendee may attend at 1/2 off) and $425 per non-member. Registration now closed. 

Exhibitors & Sponsors

                                              

 

HOTEL INFORMATION:
Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center
100 Green Meadows Drive, Lewis Center, Ohio 43035

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING:

In addition, the annual membership meeting will be a forum to:

• review the current State of the Association
• review the work of the ESC Network and ESC Program Cabinet
• elect regional representatives and officers to the OESCA Executive Committee for 2023-2024

  

ALSO PART OF THE SPRING CONFERENCE:

April 16 - OESCA Executive Committee Meeting

April 18 - Franklin B. Walter All Scholastic Student Awards

Contact: info@oesca.org

 

All ESC staff statewide are welcome to join the Reframing Education Zoom meeting on the first Friday of each month (no meeting in April). Regional coordinators provide information and updates on state initiatives, learning opportunities, and resources and services available to ESCs. ESC staff share successes, discuss issues and network with job-alike peers statewide. Each meeting will follow a standard agenda including updates on ODE Initiatives, featured networks and related resources.

(First Friday of each month) 9:00-10:00am Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99768034626 (NOTE NEW ZOOM ADDRESS)

 

[Learn more about ESC Network Regional Coordinators and view recording of previous meetings]

OESCA continually tracks and analyzes pending federal and state legislation of interest to Ohio's 51 Educational Service Centers and their client school districts. See the State Operating Budget page for details of the FY2024-25 State operating budget.

 

Legislative e-Updates 2023 | January 23 | March 6 | March 22 | March 27 | April 3 | April 10 | May 10 | May 22 | June 5 | June 20 | July 7 | July 12

 

Ohio Senate Testimony - Craig Burford, Executive Director, Ohio ESC Association (OESCA)

• June 13, 2023 Proponent Testimony: House Bill 71 (Community Connectors Workforce Program) | Recording
• May 31, 2023 Interested Party Testimony: House Bill 33 (State Budget)
• May 2, 2023 Interested Party Testimony: House Bill 33 (State Budget)
• February 28, 2023 Interested Party Testimony: Senate Bill 1 (Ohio Department of Education Overhaul)

 

Send OESCA Legislative e-Updates to my Inbox!