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WHAT IS A REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICT?
For many years Regional Educational Service Districts (RESDs) were known as Intermediate School Districts (ISDs). In 1962 the Michigan Legislature created ISDs to bring about quality and equitable educational opportunities to schools and students throughout Michigan.
Business Office services, Career Preparation, Innovative Projects, Educational Services, Technology Department, and Special Education all work with local partners to utilize resources in a non-duplicative fashion to maximize the scale of effort and services that can be accessed by families.
Over the years, the unique roles of ISDs have adapted to include the realities of increased calls of educational accountability and choice. For example, ISDs are helping member districts understand, comply, and implement the standards required of the complex federal No Child Left Behind law and state accreditation system. Currently the SRESD provides technical assistance to schools in the arena of data review, teaching and learning and overall school improvement.
ISDs/RESAs/RESDs accomplish their mission in many ways. Some are noted below, namely by:
- Creating and promoting economies of scale. Examples would include special education services for the entire county, a substitute teacher system operated by SRESD and used by many constituent districts, vocational education coursework in conjunction with local districts and Baker College, shared professional development across local districts and non-public schools and with other ISDs.
- Sharing current and credible research, best practices, and innovation. Examples would include conferences sponsored by SRESD opened to others to attend, development of lesson plans shared across districts, assistive technology research, and learning library information.
- Providing oversight and liaison roles. Examples would include special education monitoring, review of annual reports and school improvement plans, gifted and talented work plans, pupil accounting, truancy assistance, etc.
- Building and sustaining local partnerships and sharing credible research into the importance of early childhood care and education. Examples would include serving children birth to five with special needs and their families, early childhood playgroups and home visiting through Great Parents/Great Start.
- By working with workforce development boards, business and industry, ISDs help promote growing economics and stable communities. Examples would include tri-county public relations work called Keep Learning...Our Future Depends On It focusing on increasing the number of college graduates in our area, the Career Preparation Program School Interview Days, and the Renaissance Program with local businesses supporting work with area students.
- By working with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to share information, resources on new policy legislation and programs. SRESD manages several statewide projects for the MDE.
Business Office services, Career Preparation, Innovative Projects, Educational Services, Technology Department, and Special Education all work with local partners to utilize resources in a non-duplicative fashion to maximize the scale of effort and services that can be accessed by families.
