FAQ
To view an
audiovisual presentation about ESC-2, please click here
(21114.72KB Windows Media File).
What is the Education Service Center?
What is the mission of the Education
Service Center?
What is the history of the ESC-2?
What services are available to schools?
Are services available to the public?
Where can I find information regarding ESC-2 professional development
and workshops?
Does the ESC-2 offer an alternative certification program for teachers?
Does the ESC-2 offer an alternative certification program for
principals?
How does the ESC's cooperative purchasing program work?
What are the ESC-2's hours of operation?
How are ESC's funded?
How are ESC's governed?
Are ESC's regulatory agencies?
Is the ESC-2 a part of Corpus Christi Independent School Districts?
How
was funding for recent renovations and building updates acquired?
What is the Education Service Center?
The Education Service Center is a non-profit service organization created to
provide services to schools. There are twenty service centers in Texas,
each serving schools in a specific region.
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What is the mission of the Education Service Center?
The Region 2 Education Service Center's mission is to
be a catalyst for change resulting in student improvement and efficiency
and economy of operation. We promote educational excellence for all
students throughout our region and state. Every district within the region
is provided both instructional and non-instructional assistance. State and
local initiatives are promoted and implemented within the region. The
primary focus of our organization is student achievement, and we impact
student achievement by offering relevant professional development for
teachers, administrators, school board members, parents, and other
clientele.
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What is the history of the ESC-2?
In 1967 the Texas Legislature and the State Board of Education
established twenty Education Service Centers throughout the state.
Initially the service centers were established to provide media services
and limited instruction-related training for teachers. The ESC-2 has
evolved over time and has embraced many new responsibilities, in the areas
of professional development, certification, cooperative purchasing,
telecommunications, computer services, and other technology related areas
to meet the increasing needs of Texas Coastal Bend schools.
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What services are available to schools?
The ESC-2 offers over eighty-five specific programs to assist school
districts in improving student performance, operating more efficiently and
economically, and providing professional development for teachers and
administrators. While the primary focus of the Region 2 Education Service
Center is student achievement by offering relevant professional
development for teachers, administrators, school board members, parents,
and other clientele, ESC-2 Centers also assist schools in other key
functions, such as:
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Are services available to the public?
While the ESC-2's priority is to service the school districts,
professional development workshops and training are also open to the
public for a fee based on availability. Organizations can also enter into
a cooperative program where contracted days can be purchased at a
discounted rate for consultant services, staff development, and technical
assistance. Meeting facilities are also available for rental to outside
companies and organizations for a fee.
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Where can I find information regarding ESC-2 professional development
and workshops?
You can visit the ESC-2 Web site at
http://www.esc2.net/training/ for
information about a specific workshop or to download the workshop book; or
you can call us at (361) 561-8400.
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Does the ESC-2 offer an alternative certification program for teachers?
The Educator Preparation and Certification Program (EPCP)
provides for the certification of individuals who meet program admission
requirements, which would include training and a paid internship in a
public school, to earn a Texas Standard, (all level) Generic Special
Education Certificate or a Secondary ( in specific content areas)
Certificate. For more information, visit our website: <http://epcp.esc2.net/>.
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Does the ESC-2 offer an alternative certification program for
principals?
The PEL program provides for the certification of individuals who meet
admission requirements. PEL participants complete a combination of
training sessions and project-based activities over a two-year period.
Upon completion of all program requirements, participants will be eligible
for a Texas Standard Principal Certificate.
For entry requirements, information and/or an application
packet, visit our website: <http://pel.esc2.net/>.
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How does the ESC's cooperative purchasing program work?
The ESC is part of a Multi-Regional Purchasing Cooperative, an
administrative agency created in accordance with Section 791.001 of the
Texas Government Code. The purpose of the Cooperative is to obtain the
benefits and efficiencies that can accrue to Cooperative members in a
concerted effort to comply with state bidding requirements and
identification of qualified vendors of commodities, goods, and services.
Simply put, schools or districts participating in the
cooperative supply the ESC with a list of items needed for the year. The
ESC in turn handles the bid process and secures discounted volume pricing.
For additional information regarding the purchasing cooperative, please
visit us at <http://purchase.esc2.net/>
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What are the ESC-2's hours of operation?
Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
*Closed on weekends and holidays.
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How are ESCs funded?
Education Service Centers do not possess tax levying or bonding
authority. Service centers receive monies from federal, state, and local
sources. State funds provide approximately 11%; federal funds provide 39%;
contracts with school districts comprise 50%. Monies are also generated
through grants and service contracts.
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How are ESCs governed?
A seven-member lay board governs Service centers. To stand for election
to the ESC board of directors, the candidate must be an U.S. citizen at
least 18 years of age and reside in the region. School board trustees of
each school district in the ESC region elect board members.
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Are ESCs regulatory agencies?
ESCs are not regulatory agencies. The purpose of the ESC is to assists
districts in improving student performance. School participation in ESC
services is voluntary.
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Is the ESC-2 a part of Corpus Christi Independent School Districts?
Many times people are confused about the ESC-2's relationship with
CCISD. Although the ESC-2 is located in Corpus Christi and provides
services to CCISD, they are two separate entities. CCISD is simply one of
the larger of the 42 school districts that ESC-2 serves.
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How
was funding for recent renovations and building updates acquired?
The badly needed renovations and building updates to our facilities
at 209 N. Water Street were funded through a bank note that the
Education Service Center, Region 2 was able to secure. The cosmetic
changes in our building allow us to provide much more comfortable,
technologically advanced, and expansive space to service our school
districts. At the same time, when our meeting rooms are not being
utilized to service schools, outside organizations can rent space within
our facilities.
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