AESD
AESD

Our Educational Service Districts

Each of Washington’s nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) provides essential local services, responsive to their region’s communities.

Nine ESDs – One Goal

Formed in 1969, Educational Service Districts (ESDs) consolidated individual County Superintendent of School offices to reduce duplication, improve equity, and streamline accountability to the state.

ESDs connect local public and private schools with state and national resources, offering shared services and programs that save costs and expand access, putting more dollars into classrooms and enabling specialized support. As regional liaisons, ESDs bridge local districts with OSPI, the State Board of Education, and the Legislature, helping to address key challenges in our public schools.

Find your ESD
AESD: Have You Heard of Educational Service Districts?

Click on each region to see more information

Washington ESDs serve

  • 1 million+ ​students
  • 295 School Districts
  • 700+ Private Schools
  • 18 Public Charter Schools
  • 8 State Tribal Education Compact Schools (STECs)
  • 2 State Schools
Washington Map of ESD Regions
ESD 189: Northwest ESD 114: Olympic Region ESD 113: Capital Region ESD 112: Southwest Washington ESD 121: Puget Sound ESD 171: North Central ESD 105: South Central Washington ESD 112: Southwest Washington ESD 101: Northeast Washington ESD 123: Southeast Washington

ESD 189: Northwest

  • 35 School Districts
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • 1 public charter school
  • Superintendent:
    Ismael Vivanco

Counties: Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom

1601 R Avenue, Anacortes, 98221
tel: 360.299.4000 | www.nwesd.org

Northwest ESD 189

ESD 114: Olympic Region

  • 15 School Districts
  • 2 tribal compact schools
  • 1 public charter school
  • Superintendent:
    Aaron Leavell

Counties: Kitsap (except Bainbridge Island), Jefferson, and Clallam

105 National Ave. N., Bremerton, 98312
tel: 360.405.5801 | www.oesd114.org

ESD 114 - Olympic

ESD 113: Capital Region

  • 44 School Districts
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • Superintendent:
    Flip Herndon

Counties: Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Pacific, and Grays Harbor

6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater, 98512
tel: 360.464.6700 | www.esd113.org

ESD 113

ESD 112: Southwest Washington

  • 30 School Districts
  • 2 State Schools
  • Superintendent:
    Tim Merlino

Counties: Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, and Pacific

2500 N.E. 65th Ave., Vancouver, 98661-6812
tel: 360.750.7503 | www.esd112.org

ESD 112

ESD 121: Puget Sound

  • 35 School Districts
  • 2 tribal compact school
  • 10 public charter schools
  • Superintendent:
    John Welch

Counties: King and Pierce

800 Oakesdale Ave. SW, Renton, 98057
tel: 800.664.4549| www.psesd.org

Puget Sound ESD

ESD 171: North Central

  • 29 School Districts
  • 1 public charter school
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • Superintendent:
    Dr. Michelle Price

Counties: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan

430 Old Station Road, Wenatchee, 98801
tel: 509.665.2610| www.ncesd.org

North Central ESD 171

ESD 105: South Central Washington

  • 25 School Districts
  • 1 tribal compact school
  • Superintendent:
    Shane Backlund

Counties: Kittitas and Yakima counties, and portions of Klickitat and Grant

33 S. 2nd Ave., Yakima, 98902-3486
tel: 509.575.2885 | www.esd105.org

ESD 105

ESD 112: Southwest Washington

  • 30 School Districts
  • 2 State Schools
  • Superintendent:
    Tim Merlino

Counties: Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, and Pacific

2500 N.E. 65th Ave., Vancouver, 98661-6812
tel: 360.750.7503 | www.esd112.org

ESD 112

ESD 101: Northeast Washington

  • 59 School Districts
  • 4 public charter schools
  • Superintendent:
    Rob Roettger

Counties: Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman

4202 S. Regal, Spokane, 99223-7738
tel: 509.789.3800 | www.esd101.net

New ESD 101

ESD 123: Southeast Washington

  • 23 School Districts
  • Superintendent:
    Steve McCullough

Counties: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, and Walla Walla

3918 W. Court St., Pasco, 99301
tel: 509.547.8441 | www.esd123.org

ESD 123

The ESD Return on Investment

ESDs leverage almost $7.8 million of state-allocated core funding into $376.1 million of needed services for Washington’s students and schools. For every $1 they receive in core funding, ESDs return $47 in educational programs and services — resulting in $313 for every student in the state.

State and federal agencies recognize the importance of funding ESDs and the AESD. The AESD, in turn, is committed to its own development by enhancing essential operations such as communications and program evaluation, as well as revising its governance documents.

AESD Core Funding

Agency Contracts: $131M (35%); Federal Sources: $93.6M (24%); Cooperatives: $79.5M (21%); Other Programs: $46.6M (12%); Local Sources: $17.6M (5%); State Core Funding: $7.8M (2%)

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Washington State’s ESD History

1890
Office of County Supt created in statute
1890

Office of County Supt created in statute

1909
39 County Boards of Education created in statute
1909

39 County Boards of Education created in statute

1955
County Board membership changed to elected membership
1955

County Board membership changed to elected membership

1969
Intermediate School District (ISD) Act passes establishing 14 ISDs in statute, and authority to create a statewide association (AESD)
1969

Intermediate School District (ISD) Act passes establishing 14 ISDs in statute, and authority to create a statewide association (AESD)

1970
1970s: A decade of legislative actions result in shift from 14 ISDs to 9 ESDs
1970

1970s: A decade of legislative actions result in shift from 14 ISDs to 9 ESDs

1980
1980s–90s: ESDs allowed to establish cooperative services, like transportation, special education, and information technology
1980

1980s–90s: ESDs allowed to establish cooperative services, like transportation, special education, and information technology

2000
2000–10s: Legislative investment in ESDs to deliver statewide initiatives, like math, science, ELA
2000

2000–10s: Legislative investment in ESDs to deliver statewide initiatives, like math, science, ELA

2005
Initiative 900 passes directing state government audits (ESD audit was one of the first)
2005

Initiative 900 passes directing state government audits (ESD audit was one of the first)

2007
ESD performance audit report: ESDs should work together to scale effective programs and increase efficiency
2007

ESD performance audit report: ESDs should work together to scale effective programs and increase efficiency

2008
AESD Network formation and design
2008

AESD Network formation and design

2010
2010s: Expanded statewide initiatives and formalized partnership with OSPI
2010

2010s: Expanded statewide initiatives and formalized partnership with OSPI

2020
2020+: AESD evolution and growth through statewide relationships
2020

2020+: AESD evolution and growth through statewide relationships