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OESCA Named to Inaugural AI25 List Recognizing Leaders in Ohio's AI Economy

By Craig Burford posted 15 days ago
The Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) has been named to the inaugural AI25 Companies & Organizations list by Ohio Tech News and OhioX, an honor recognizing 25 companies and organizations helping define Ohio's artificial intelligence economy. In announcing OESCA's inclusion, Ohio Tech News highlighted the association's role as a key statewide delivery arm for AI education in Ohio through the strength of its member educational service centers. The publication specifically recognized OESCA's work with aiEDU to build teacher training, statewide summits, and a nine-part professional learning series for ESC staff and district AI ...

REGISTER NOW FOR THE OESCA FALL CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 8-9, 2026

By Craig Burford posted 17 days ago
Registration is open for the OESCA 2026 Fall Connect & Collaborate Conference September 8-9, 2026. This annual professional learning experience and membership meeting, designed for ESC teams, will feature state and national speakers including presentations from: Not for Profit Education Thought Leaders, National Educational Service Agency Leaders, AESA Representatives, Statehouse Journalists & Insiders, ESC-led breakout sessions, The Ohio Department of Education, Expert Panels, and Much more. Register today. These speakers will cover a number of issue and service ares aligned ...

Legislative eUpdate for July 24, 2026

By Craig Burford posted 17 days ago
Issue Date: July 24, 2026 This July 24, 2026 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 136 th Ohio General Assembly. There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document concludes with targeted news updates and the latest news from Capitol Square. This Week at a Glance · Legislative & Policy Highlights ...

Legislative e-Update for March 11, 2026

By Craig Burford posted 03-12-2026
This March 11, 2026 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 136 th Ohio General Assembly. There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document concludes with targeted news updates and the latest news from Capitol Square. Legislative Tracking Report: 136 th General Assembly SB19 REGARDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS-ACADEMIC ...

Ohio ESC Association Announces New Deputy Director

By Craig Burford posted 01-15-2026
The Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) announced today that David Larson, Superintendent of the Miami County Educational Service Center (ESC), has been appointed to serve as the association’s new Deputy Director, following Executive Committee action on January 8, 2026. Larson will begin his three-year term on August 1, 2026, and will work alongside Executive Director Craig Burford to expand OESCA’s capacity to support Ohio’s 51 Educational Service Centers and the districts, schools and students they serve. “ OESCA’s strategic planning and network design work made clear that adding a Deputy Director was essential to delivering on our ...

Legislative e-Update for October 2, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 10-02-2025
OESCA Members & Education Stakeholders: The most recent OESCA Legislative e-Update is now available at https://www.oesca.org/viewdocument/legislative-eupdate-for-october-2?CommunityKey=e25c3e7b-d192-458d-bbfc-018fe042b4c4&tab=librarydocuments . This October, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the state budget and other pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 136 th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date ...

2025 OESCA Awards at the Capital Conference

By Craig Burford posted 09-29-2025
OESCA Members: The OESCA Awards are held each Fall at the Capital Conference - ESCs nominate individuals or groups for their service to education. This year’s event will be held Monday, November 17, 2025, at the Hilton downtown. Nominations are open now and the luncheon registration form is online. Go to: https://www.oesca.org/events/awards/oesca-awards As part of our website, you can register for the luncheon online, make changes to registration, view your registration, and get the link to nominate awardees. See more information at: https://www.oesca.org/events/awards/oesca-awards Awards Presented: Distinguished ...

Registration Closes at Midnight Tonight for the OESCA 2025 Fall "Connect & Collaborate" Conference!

By Craig Burford posted 08-27-2025
Registration Closes at Midnight Tonight for the OESCA 2025 Fall "Connect & Collaborate" Conference! Join us for two days of inspiration and actionable learning focused on the pivotal role Educational Service Centers (ESCs) play in shaping the future through collaboration with state, public, and private partners. Who Should Attend? The primary audience includes: ESC Leaders ESC Directors ESC Program Staff State Education Policymakers Regional Implementation Partners Workforce & Community Partners Speaker Highlights We have a great agenda featuring: · Tim Ryan Former U.S. Congressman and ...

Registration for the OESCA 2025 Fall "Connect & Collaborate" Conference Has Been Extended Until August 27!

By Craig Burford posted 08-22-2025
Registration for the OESCA 2025 Fall "Connect & Collaborate" Conference Has Been Extended Until August 27! Earlier this week the OESCA website was down for two days. We apologize for the inconvenience. As a result, OESCA is extending conference registration until next Wednesday. Join us for two days of inspiration and actionable learning focused on the pivotal role Educational Service Centers (ESCs) play in shaping the future through collaboration with state, public, and private partners. Who Should Attend? The primary audience includes: ESC Leaders ESC Directors ESC Program Staff State Education Policymakers ...

Legislative e-Update for August 10, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 08-10-2025
This August 10, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the state budget and other pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 136 th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date . There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document ends with the targeted news stories of interest and the latest news from Capitol Square from last week. The downloadable versions for OESCA ...

Fight Child Abuse! A program of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation

By Craig Burford posted 06-30-2025
OESCA is Hosting a Webinar on June 30, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern! Join OESCA and/or share with the appropriate staff in your ESC Join OESCA on June 30, 2025, with Fight Child Abuse! A free program of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation. Fight Child Abuse is a resource provided by the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation. It has various videos on child sexual abuse topics such as safe and unsafe touch. There is no cost associated with this curriculum. And, it is a DEW approved curriculum. The nonprofit Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center Foundation in conjunction with Wonder Media and ...

Legislative e-Update for June 23, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 06-23-2025
It is expected to be a big week in the Ohio General Assembly with Conference Committee on Am. Sub. H.B. 96 expected to report out the FY 2026-2027 biennial state operating budget. More information will be provided as the details become available. But there are a number of other important bills currently being debated by the legislature. And this weekly e-Update is designed to give members an ongoing update on what is happening on Capital Square. This June 23, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the state ...

State Budget Update: As Passed by the Ohio Senate

By Craig Burford posted 06-20-2025
Am. Sub. H.B. 96, the FY 2026-2027 biennial state operating budget, as passed by the Ohio Senate, includes a number of important policy and funding provisions related to K-12 Education and Ohio's ESCs. ESC Specific provisions include the following: ESC funding grows at $1.8 million per year, phasing in years 5 and 6 of the current ESC funding model. The bill earmarks $49.2 million in FY 2026 and $51.0 million in FY 2027 for ESCs from GRF ALI 200550, Foundation Funding - All Students (see EDUCD56). ESC gifted units were flat funded School Improvement funds through ESCs were flat funded. ESCs were added to the list of entities with the right ...

Legislative e-Update for June 20, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 06-20-2025
The June 20, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the state budget and other pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 136 th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date . There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document ends with the targeted news stories of interest and the latest news from Capitol Square. This week's update also includes updates on the state budget and ...

Legislative e-Update for June 12, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 06-12-2025
The state budget process continued this week with Senate passage of Am. Sub. H.B. 96. The House did not concur to Senate changes setting the table for conference committee that is expected to convene in the coming weeks with a targeted budget passage date of June 25 or 26. Meanwhile, other non-fiscal legislative action continues. OESCA continues to strive to provide its membership with the latest available information. This June 12, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest ...

OESCA Executive Director Testifies in Senate Finance Committee on ESC Funding

By Craig Burford posted 05-29-2025
May 28, 2025, Interested Party Testimony: Am. Sub. H.B. 96 Craig Burford, Executive Director, Ohio Educational Service Center Association Introduction Chair Cirino, Vice Chair Chavez, Ranking Minority Member Hicks-Hudson, and members of the Senate Finance Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today on Am. Sub. H.B. 96, the FY 2026-2027 biennial state operating budget. Overview Educational Service Centers (ESCs) are considered local education agencies (LEAs) and school districts under state and federal law and are the largest component of Ohio’s Educational Regional Service System (ERSS), which ...

Breaking Barriers to Boost Attendance in Ohio Schools: Ohio ESCs Lead Collaborative, Multi-Tiered Solutions to Chronic Absenteeism

By Craig Burford posted 05-29-2025
Breaking Barriers to Boost Attendance in Ohio Schools: Ohio ESCs Lead Collaborative, Multi-Tiered Solutions to Chronic Absenteeism Chronic absenteeism has long been a barrier to student success, but Ohio’s Educational Service Centers (ESCs) are changing the narrative. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified attendance challenges, especially for economically disadvantaged and habitually truant students. Through the ESC Learning Recovery Grant, funded by the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) program, 11 innovative ESCs have tackled attendance issues head-on. Their holistic, community-driven approaches are yielding ...

May 20, 2025 Legislative e-Update

By Craig Burford posted 05-20-2025
The most recent OESCA Legislative e-Update is now available. The May 20, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 135 th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date . There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document ends with the targeted news stories of interest and the latest news from Capitol Square. ...

May 5, 2025 Legislative E-Update

By Craig Burford posted 05-05-2025
The most recent OESCA Legislative e-Update is now available. The May 5, 2025 , Legislative e-Update is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 135 th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date . There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document ends with the targeted news stories of interest and the latest news from Capitol Square. ...

Legislative e-Update for April 21, 2025

By Craig Burford posted 04-21-2025
The April 21, 2025 , Legislative e-Update located below is provided by OESCA to Ohio’s ESCs, their client school districts, and other key education stakeholders. The e-Update provides information on the pending education bills of interest to Ohio’s public education community introduced during the 135 th Ohio General Assembly. Bills are organized by last action date . There are also links to the state bill page for users to download any bills, analyses, or fiscal notes. The document ends with the targeted news stories of interest and the latest news from Capitol Square. The downloadable update is provided in MS Word format ...