Puget Sound Educational Service District

Puget Sound Educational Service District (ESD) #121 is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts and state-approved private schools in Washington state. ESDs function primarily as support agencies and deliver educational services that can be more efficiently or economically performed regionally. Puget Sound ESD develops and delivers a wide selection of services that provide instructional and administrative support to PreK-12 schools and direct service to students and families. Departments and types of services offered include:

•Administrative Services: cost-saving insurance cooperatives; teacher certification; school emergency communications; grants services; education television channel.

•Early Childhood and Family Support Services: infant and preschool programs; comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and social services for 3,600+ preschool children and their families; education, involvement, and job readiness opportunities for parents; training and support for the child care community.

•Financial Services: group financing and/or purchasing cooperatives; technical assistance and consultation on school financial issues; pools and cooperatives for administrative support; pupil transportation coordination; and state reporting functions.

•Learning and Teaching Services: research; evaluation and assessment; school improvement; prevention services; school, family and community partnerships; professional development; teaching support; and clock hours.

•Special Services: programs for students with special needs; assistance with the design and effective evaluation of programs; services for children with vision impairment, hearing loss, and deaf-blindness, ages birth through 21.

•Technology Services: assistance to schools and school districts in planning for educational technology; network services; software purchasing programs; web and software development; videoconferencing; and library and media services.