OAR 581-024-0208: Mission, Roles and Goals

(1) Each district shall provide regionalized core services to component school districts as provided in ORS 334.175 (2). Services must be approved by the component school district boards and the district board, and be included in the district’s Local Service Plan. The goals of these services shall be to: improve student learning, enhance the quality of instruction, provide professional development to component school district employees, provide students equitable access to resources, and maximize operational and fiscal efficiencies for component school districts (334.175 (1)(a)–(f)) (2) In accordance with ORS 334.005 the mission and roles of the districts are as follows: (a) The mission of education service districts is to assist school districts and the Department of Education in achieving Oregon's educational goals by providing equitable, high quality, cost-effective and locally responsive educational services at a regional level. (b) An education service district plays a key role in: (A) Ensuring an equitable and excellent education for all children in the state; (B) Implementing the Oregon Education Act for the 21st Century; (C) Fostering the attainment of high standards of performance by all students in Oregon's public schools; and (D) Facilitating inter-organizational coordination and cooperation among educational, social service, health care and employment training agencies. (c) An education service district's role is one of leadership and service. Education service districts shall maintain the distinction between their role as service organizations and the regulatory role of the Department of Education and other agencies. (d) To ensure that a district is responsive to its component school districts a Local Service Plan must be developed and adopted by the district board, and approved by component school district boards through the resolution process as provided in ORS 334.175(5)(a)(b). The district should consider a variety of flexible service delivery models. (e) An education service district shall submit an Annual Report to the Department by June 30 of each year on forms provided by the Department. The Annual Report shall be a comprehensive document which includes a Local Service Plan, a Review of Component Districts’ Operations and an ESD Self-Appraisal. (f) An education service district shall remain accountable to: (A) The public at large; (B) The component school districts; and (C) The State Board of Education.