About AESD

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Association of Educational Service Districts shall be to provide communication and coordination among ESD Boards for educational advocacy; for fostering leadership and partnerships; and for collaboration within the educational community.

What is the AESD Network?

OSPI and ESD superintendents represented within the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD) have agreed to commit to establishing and maintaining the OSPI/AESD partnership. They are working together to realize an open and coordinated system focused on shared statewide initiatives that collaborates on goals, accountability measures, and deliverables, and that engages in continual improvement efforts to strengthen the efficacy of the partnership on behalf of Washington’s students.

To learn more, download the current draft of the Coordinated Services Agreement between the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Association of Educational Service Districts.

Almost 50 Years of Service

In a few short years, the statewide system of Educational Service Districts will celebrate 50 years of service. In 1969, ESDs were formed when individual County Superintendent of School offices were consolidated and reorganized to reduce duplication, equalize educational opportunities, and provide a more effective reporting and accountability system to the state legislature.

ESDs link local public and private schools with one another and with state and national resources. ESD Cooperatives and programs enhance educational opportunities because they realize significant savings, allowing districts to send more dollars directly to the classroom and provide special services that might otherwise be unavailable to their regions.

As you can see, ESDs play a crucial role in addressing the challenges in our public schools. Geographically closer to local schools and their district offices, the ESDs serve as regional liaisons between the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), State Board of Education, and the Legislature.

The ESD Return on Investment

As ESDs enter the middle of their fourth decade of service, the scope and nature of linking and service responsibilities reflect the change facing our public schools today. In a time of increased public accountability, of both student performance and management of public resources, ESDs in Washington are “the” model of efficiency and leverage. In the 2003-04 school year alone, the nine ESDs leveraged approximately $4 million dollars of state funding into approximately $186 million dollars in grants, cooperatives, and other professional services to local school districts. Stated another way, ESDs created approximately $40 of service for every $1 of taxpayer investment!!

As our state’s citizens demand higher standards and ever increasing demands on educational programs, the ESDs of Washington state will continue to provide critical services such as teacher and staff training, networking and technology integration, and direct services for students with special needs and early childhood education. We will continue to create new opportunities, leverage more resources, and facilitate broad support for the benefit of all students and their families in Washington State.

Download the 2014-15 Executive Summary for Legislators for more information.