The origin of Ohio’s Educational Service Centers dates back to 1914, when the Ohio General Assembly created 88 “County School Districts” and charged them with the task of “elevating the state’s system of education to a proper standard.” In 1995, the 88 County School Districts were renamed “Educational Service Centers”. Since then some of the former county offices have merged into regional agencies. Today, the Knox Educational Service Center is one of 55 such agencies that improves student learning, enhances the quality of instruction, expands equitable access to resources, and reduces costs for the public school districts of Ohio.
The Knox Educational Service Center develops, implements, and operates cooperative, shared educational services for the Centerburg, Clear Fork Valley, Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown, and Mount Vernon City school districts. The specific services provided to these districts by the Knox Educational Service Center include:
Special Education Services
School psychologist services for the evaluation of preschool students with special needs
Classroom instruction and program supervision for students with emotional disabilities in grades kindergarten through 12
Classroom instruction and program supervision for high school and adult students with multiple disabilities
Speech, occupational, and physical therapy for preschool and school-age students with physical disabilities
Student Programs
Public and special needs preschool instruction and program supervision for students
ages 3 and 4
Alternative school instruction and program supervision for students ages 5 through 21
School, after school, and summer enrichment programs for students identified as gifted and talented
Employee and Community Services
Employment of classroom and personal aides for participating school districts.
Recruitment, licensure, and employment of substitute teachers and substitute aides for participating school districts
Training programs for teachers and aides
Employment of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Specialists for participating schools
Mentorship programs for beginning teachers
Certification Programs and Physicals for bus drivers
FBI and BCI Background Checks for the general public
Documentation of home-schooled students in participating school districts
Employment of Parent Mentor Coordinator