As the 2024-25 school year begins, Education Service Centers across Texas continue to work to provide services for school districts.
ESC Region 10 serves more than 130 school districts, including Richardson, Frisco, McKinney, Celina and Prosper ISDs.
Rachel Frost is the chief communications officer of ESC Region 10. Frost recently answered questions from Community Impact via email, explaining the the history of and services provided by Education Service Centers in Texas. She also provided insight on where funding for ESCs comes from.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What is an education service center?
The Texas state Legislature established 20 regional Education Service Centers in 1967 to support schools and create innovative solutions. Per state statute, ESCs are focused on improving student achievement, helping school districts operate more efficiently and economically, and implementing statewide initiatives.
Where does the funding for an ESC come from?
ESCs do not possess tax levying or bonding authority, and are funded through grants and contracts for services with school districts.
How many school districts, charters and private schools; students; district staff and teachers does the region provide service to?
Region 10 proudly serves nearly 900,000 students and 115,000 school staff, of which 60,000 are teachers in more than 130 ISDs, charters and private schools across 10 North Texas counties.
Region 10 offers professional development opportunities nearly all day every day. If you visit either of our buildings you will find rooms filled with educators actively engaged and learning. We also offer professional development at school districts, online through virtual learning as well as hybrid learning opportunities. Last year, we offered more than 7,000 professional development courses to more than 500,000 attendees for a total of nearly 850,000 total hours of professional development.
In the past five years, have you noticed any trends of what school districts are needing?
The COVID-19 pandemic, starting in March 2020, dramatically altered the needs of public schools to serve their students. Initially, Region 10 pivoted to support teachers and administrators in transitioning to virtual settings. As we've moved beyond the immediate crisis, we've seen a trend toward integrating the lessons learned from virtual instruction into traditional teaching models. This hybrid approach has become increasingly prevalent in professional development for educators.
Beyond pandemic-related changes, we've noticed several other prominent trends in school district needs:
Classroom management and discipline: There's been an increased demand for strategies to address behavioral challenges, particularly as students readjust to in-person learning environments.
Support for bilingual and non-English-speaking students: Districts are seeking more resources and training to effectively serve their growing diverse student populations.
Teacher recruitment and retention: This has become a critical focus area, with districts looking for innovative ways to attract and keep qualified educators in an increasingly competitive job market.
Budget management training for district leadership: We've seen a rising need for administrators to develop stronger financial skills to navigate complex funding scenarios and optimize resource allocation.
School safety and security: In light of ongoing concerns surrounding school safety, districts are prioritizing comprehensive safety measures and crisis response training.
These trends reflect the evolving challenges facing our school districts. Region 10 continues to adapt our support and resources to meet these changing needs.
Learn More
To find out more about ESC Region 10, visit www.region10.org.
