Some ambiguity exists regarding the accountability of the ESCs. The State Plan for Regional Education Service Centers states that the ESC board is accountable to the constituents in the region and, through the Commissioner of Education to the State Board of Education. Yet neither state law nor rule specifically fixes the accountability of the ESCs to the state. Service centers are funded through a combination of sources. State monies are provided through the General Appropriations Act from the Foundation School Program, General Revenue Fund Appropriation and other state appropriated funds.
Some centers also assist in cooperatives among districts by serving as fiscal agents.
Consistent with their main source of funding, ESCs exist primarily to serve school districts within their boundaries. Figure 1 shows the current mismatch between the services offered by ESCs and their sources of funding. Core Services . State statute or board rule requires ESCs to offer certain core services. The TEA assumes relatively little responsibility for ensuring that ESCs are held accountable and that ESC operations are properly monitored and evaluated.