We are the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center, the Southern Ohio Learning Center and Region 14 Hopewell Center (State Support Team 14).
Through our three locations, we provide a wide variety of services to our member districts including curriculum development and in-service training; special education services; speech, language and hearing services.
Vision Statement: Leading with Innovative Solutions for Student and Community Success
Mission Statement: Ensuring Excellence in Performance by: Pioneering High-Quality Services and Learning Through Shared Expertise Fostering Student, Family, and Community Success by Addressing Tomorrow's Challenges Today.
What is an Educational Service Center (ESC)?
Currently, there are 51 ESCs in Ohio. The Clinton County Board of Education was selected as the fiscal agent in 1968 by 18 school district superintendents. The 18 superintendents represented Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland Counties. This was the former Hopewell Special Educational Regional Resource Center territory. Today the SOESC is recognized by the Ohio Department of Education as 1 of 16 regional fiscal agents for state support team work.
In 1997 the Clinton County Board of Education, Fayette County Board of Education, and the Highland County Board of Education merged to form the Clinton-Fayette-Highland Educational Service District. Seven years later, Adams County/Ohio Valley Local Schools joined the ESC, and a year after, we changed our name to the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center.
Currently, we serve ADAMS COUNTY - Adams County/Ohio Valley Local Schools, CLINTON COUNTY - Blanchester Local Schools, Clinton-Massie Local Schools, East Clinton Local Schools and Wilmington City Schools, FAYETTE COUNTY - Miami Trace Local Schools and Washington Court House City Schools, HIGHLAND COUNTY - Bright Local Schools, Fairfield Local Schools, Greenfield Exempted Village Schools, Hillsboro City Schools and Lynchburg-Clay Local Schools. Twelve member school districts receive direct services through the SOESC. The Region 14/Hopewell Center provides special education cooperative services to 18 schools including Manchester in Adams County and five districts in Brown County. A total of 24,500 students and 2,400 teachers are provided support through our organization.