ESC of Eastern Ohio Receives High Performing Designation

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The ESC of Eastern Ohio has received the High Performing ESC designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

The designation highlights ESC of Eastern Ohio’s commitment to providing its partner districts with cost-effective services that enhance educational quality and efficiency, a news release states.

“This designation reflects our dedication to providing high-quality services that are responsive to the unique needs of our districts,” said Traci Hostetler, superintendent of the ESC of Eastern Ohio. “We are committed to supporting our schools in every way possible, and this recognition is a testament to our efforts to maximize resources for the benefit of our students and communities.”

To achieve the designation, each ESC must demonstrate total cost savings of at least 5% across five selected service areas. The ESC of Eastern Ohio surpassed this benchmark, delivering substantial savings in essential service areas to its client school districts, the release states. 

Statewide, Ohio ESCs averaged a 39.32% cost savings in fiscal year 2024, as measured by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Each of Ohio’s 51 educational service centers applied for and received the High Performing ESC designation.

The DEW evaluated each ESC’s application based on the total cost savings generated for its client districts, determined by the pricing model for primary services.

“Ohio’s educational service centers provide their client schools and districts with exceptional services at reasonable costs,” said Craig Burford, executive director of the Ohio ESC Association. “Over the past nine years, Ohio ESCs have averaged 35.95% cost savings to districts per year, totaling over $687.6 million statewide for primary services since 2016.”

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.