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What is an Educational Service Agency (ESA) ?

Also known in Michigan as Intermediate School Districts, these organizations were originally created by the State of Michigan Department of Education to provide school districts with programs and services too expensive or too extensive to be offered individually.

Throughout America, these agencies are referred to as “invisible partners” as they are little known to the public, however, their traditional clients - school districts - consider ISDs essential to quality education. They provide leadership, programs, resources and services to the local school districts that many could not afford on their own.

Over the years, since the ISDs were created, the mission of the agencies has been expanded. The present mission in the State of Michigan is:

To provide visionary leadership and quality services to strengthen teaching and learning for all citizens.

To achieve this mission, the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency serves the following school Districts:    

• Allegan Public Schools
• Martin Public Schools    
• Fennville Public Schools
• Otsego Public Schools    
• Glenn Public Schools
• Plainwell Community Schools    
• Hopkins Public Schools
• Wayland Union Schools

What does this mission mean to the Allegan County School Districts served by the Allegan County ESA?

• Cost savings
• Extension of their programs and services
• Additional programs and service
• Access to increased and varied funding opportunities & connections 

How is this accomplished? Here are some examples of this educational partnership in Allegan County.

The Allegan Area ESA:

1. Helps districts provide effective and efficient district operations
2. Helps districts provide quality educational opportunities to meet the needs of all of their special education students.
   
3. Helps districts improve student learning by assisting the implementation of the Michigan Curriculum Frameworks.
   
4. Insures that all district students can attend and achieve success at the Allegan County Area Technical & Education Center at NO COST to the local district except transportation.
   
5. Helps districts offers Early Education Services to all their families, assisting parents in preparing their children to be successful in school.
   
6. Insures that the district students and teachers have access to the internet and other technical support at a cost savings to the district. 

For more information about ESAs/ISDs contact:

Michigan Association for Media in Education  http://www.mame.gen.mi.us
Michigan Department of Education  http://www.mde.state.mi.us