What Region 9 Education Service Center does

Region 9 Education Service Center (Region 9 ESC) is one of 20 regional Education Service Centers operating under the Texas Education Agency, headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas, and serving 37 public school districts across 12 counties in north central Texas. Established in 1967, the center provides direct instructional support, professional development, technical assistance, and administrative services to approximately 105 campuses, 36,000+ students, and 5,500+ educators and staff in its region. Its service portfolio spans more than 20 distinct program lines organized into academic services (K-12 RLA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Texas Reading Academy, First Year Teacher Academy, High Reliability Schools framework), adult education and literacy (ESL, GED prep, career pathways, IET), student support services (Mental Health Initiative, Special Education, Child Nutrition, CCMR, foster care, McKinney-Vento), administrative support (PEIMS/TSDS via ASCENDER, purchasing cooperatives, HR Services Cooperative), and emerging district leadership offerings (Lone Star Governance, Texas Mentorship Training, Texas Strategic Leadership).

The center's underlying technology layer combines third-party platforms — Canvas LMS for online courses, ESCWorks for professional development registration, ASCENDER for finance/HR/PEIMS, Eduphoria/TEKSbank, Discovery Education, TEKS Resource System, and TCMPC for curriculum, ParentSquare for parent communication — integrated with TEA's Texas Student Data System (TSDS) for state reporting. Proprietary programmatic frameworks include the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) implementation, the Strategic Integration Liaison (SIL) project, and the Mental Health Initiative, all of which are human-facilitated service models rather than software products. The center operates a regional cooperative network including the West Texas Food Service Coop (inter-local purchasing agreement) and an HR Services Cooperative connecting applicants with 38 districts.

Region 9 is a government state entity, not a commercial enterprise. It receives funding from the Texas Education Agency to deliver mandated services at no direct cost to member districts, supplemented by inter-local cooperative fees and pass-through federal program administration (Title I, II, III, IV; IDEA Part B/Section 619; USDA Child Nutrition). A small set of fee-based programs exists — notably the T.O.P. (Treasuring Our Paraprofessionals) training at $250 per non-Title 1 Coop participant — but the vast majority of services are state-funded. The center employs 101–250 direct staff plus contracted specialists and credentialed professionals, and partners with statewide organizations including Teachers of Tomorrow, Western Governors University, Maxwell Leadership Foundation, Texas Department of Agriculture, TX CAN, TSBVI, and the SFCE Network to extend program reach.

Name

Region 9 Education Service Center

Legal name

Region 9 Education Service Center

Website

https://esc9.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Region 9 Education Service Center is a TEA-designated regional service center in Wichita Falls, Texas, delivering instructional support, professional development, special education, mental health, and administrative services to 37 public school districts across 12 north central Texas counties serving 36,000+ students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional Education Service Agencies (ESAs/BOCES/Intermediate Units) (EDADABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ), Remedial & Credit Recovery Learning Centers (EDANAHAK), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB), Immigrant/Integration Language Programs (ESL/ESOL, Civics-Integrated) (EDAMAFAK)

Keywords

• Education support services
• Professional development
• School district services
• Special education programs
• Adult education literacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Education Agency Funding: Region 9 ESC receives funding from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide technical assistance, training, and support services to school districts across the region. Services are provided at no direct cost to districts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Region 9 ESC is one of 20 Texas Education Agency-designated regional Education Service Centers providing mandated training, technical assistance, administrative support, curriculum resources, and direct student services to 37 public school districts across 12 counties in north central Texas. The center operates an integrated portfolio spanning K-12 academic content support, adult education and literacy, special education, mental health, school business/PEIMS data management, purchasing cooperatives, child nutrition, federal program compliance, and educator certification pathways, serving approximately 105 campuses, 36,000+ students, and 5,500+ staff members.

Product overview

Region 9 Education Service Center is a regional educational service center providing comprehensive support services to 37 school districts across 12 north central Texas counties. The organization operates as a multi-service platform offering academic support (K-12 curriculum, reading academies, first-year teacher training), adult education and literacy programs (GED, ESL, career pathways), student support services (mental health, special education, federal programs), administrative services (business/PEIMS, purchasing cooperatives), and technology integration (Discovery Education, Canvas LMS). The portfolio includes 20+ distinct programs and services including the Mental Health Initiative, iLead leadership development, Career and Technical Education assistance, Child Nutrition programs, Gifted and Talented cooperative, and Teacher Certification Pathways through Teachers of Tomorrow partnership. Services are delivered through both direct programming and cooperative purchasing models to support approximately 36,000+ students across 105 campuses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Academic Services - Content Area Support (K-12 RLA, Math, Science, Social Studies) Comprehensive K-12 curriculum support services including professional development, instructional coaching, and resources for Reading Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies aligned to TEKS standards, delivered to public school districts in the region.
• First Year Teacher Academy Structured support program for first-year teachers including mentoring, professional development, and instructional resources to help new educators succeed in the classroom.
• HRS: High Reliability Schools Evidence-based framework for school improvement focusing on five levels of reliability to help schools become High Reliability Schools with proven systems for teaching and learning excellence.
• Texas Reading Academy Comprehensive literacy initiative aligned to Texas Science of Teaching and Learning, providing structured approach to reading instruction and intervention for K-12 students.
• Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) Comprehensive adult education programs including ESL instruction, GED/high school equivalency preparation, career pathways with integrated education and training, and postsecondary TSI prep for adults.
• School Business/PEIMS School business and student data management services including ASCENDER software support, PEIMS data services, Texas Student Data Systems support, and business accounting cooperative.
• Purchasing Cooperative Professional development cooperative offering purchasing services, cooperative buying programs, requests for proposals processing, and procurement support for districts, including the West Texas Food Service Coop.
• Mental Health Initiative Statewide leadership program providing mental health services, crisis response, behavior support, and community resource connections to underserved campuses across the region through licensed mental health professionals.
• Career and Technical Education Assistance Career and technical education support services including program development, compliance guidance, work-based learning, apprenticeship programs, and certifications (Microsoft Office Specialist, Adobe, AWS Welding).
• Treasuring Our Paraprofessionals (T.O.P.) Training Training and certification program for paraprofessionals to meet federally required highly qualified status, covering reading, writing, and math content assessments.
• iLead Leadership Development Values-based leadership development program for students K-12 based on Maxwell Leadership Foundation framework, providing free digital content, resources, and educator support through the Texas iLead Hub.
• College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) College and career readiness programs including CCMR tracking, career counseling, military readiness preparation, and student outcome monitoring.
• Child Nutrition Federal nutrition programs including National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Meal Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and West Texas Food Service Cooperative.
• Special Education Services Comprehensive special education support including assistive technology, Child Find evaluation, DHH services, dyslexia intervention, ECSE, evaluation, MTSS framework, speech-language pathology, and visually impaired services.
• School, Family, and Community Engagement (SFCE) Network Statewide leadership for school-family-community engagement network focusing on training, technical assistance, information dissemination, and continuous improvement for families of students with disabilities.
• Federal Programs (Title I, II, III, IV) Title I, II, III, and IV federal program support including grant compliance, parent and family engagement, private nonprofit school services, and supporting effective instruction.
• At-Risk Student Support Programs Support services for at-risk students including foster care coordination, homeless education under McKinney-Vento, and military-connected student support.
• Gifted and Talented (G/T) Cooperative A-G science-based gifted and talented cooperative providing student seminars, credit by examination testing, teacher professional development, and curriculum design support.
• Teacher Certification Pathways (via Teachers of Tomorrow) Certification pathway partnership with Teachers of Tomorrow offering TEA-approved, AAQEP-accredited alternative certification with online training, test preparation, and field supervision.
• ESCWorks Professional Development Registration Professional development registration platform providing online workshop registration, enrollment, and certificate management for educator training sessions across the region.
• Nurse Support Health and safety support for school nurses including communicable disease resources, diabetic care guidance, medication management, immunizations, vision/hearing/spinal screenings, and fentanyl awareness training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37 school districts supported across 12 counties
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Teachers of TomorrowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Region 9 ESC partners with Teachers of Tomorrow to expand access to flexible teacher certification pathways. The partnership connects aspiring teachers with a TEA-approved and AAQEP-accredited alternative certification program designed to prepare classroom-ready educators for high-need schools. Teachers of Tomorrow has certified more than 90,000 teachers and serves more than 3,100 districts statewide. Candidates complete online, on-demand training while working toward certification with support from dedicated field supervisors.
• Western Governors University (WGU)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 April 2026WGU hosted its 2026 'Why I Love What I Do' paraprofessional appreciation contest, inviting paraprofessionals, teacher aides, and assistants to share their stories. WGU selected winners and runners-up from Region 9 districts, rewarding dedication with gift packages and goodie bags.
• Maxwell Leadership FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025The Maxwell Leadership Foundation provides free access to digital iLead content along with primary and supplementary resources, tools, and support. Through iLead, the foundation serves students locally and internationally by providing educators with values-based leadership development materials.
• West Texas Food Service CoopcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAll Region 9 school districts can enter into an inter-local agreement for participation in the West Texas Food Service Coop, granting buying power in commercial and commodity purchases. Services include access to multi-regional purchasing pool for cost savings, commodity processing assistance, nutritional information, procurement compliance, and liaison services between vendors and districts.
• Community Resource Coordination Groups of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApproximately 140 CRCG groups covering 236 Texas counties. CRCGs are inter-agency groups developing individual service plans for children, youth, families, and adults whose needs require multi-agency collaboration. State agency partners include TEA, DFPS, HHSC, TJJD, TWC, and others.
• Texas iLead HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide leadership project providing educators with free access to iLead digital content and resources. Regional ESCs collaborate through the hub to extend values-based leadership development across Texas schools.
• Texas Department of AgriculturecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSDA-funded Child Nutrition programs administered through TDA. Region 9 specialists provide compliance, nutrition, and management support for National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Meal Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Food Distribution Program.
• TX CAN (Texas Complex Access Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide leadership project focusing on building capacity of educators and families to raise awareness of limitless potential of students with cognitive disabilities. Provides timely, appropriate, and high-quality resources, learning opportunities, and family resources.
• School, Family, and Community Engagement (SFCE) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide Leadership for SFCE Network committed to ensuring families of students with disabilities receive accurate, timely information and meaningful engagement opportunities. Network comprises representatives from all twenty Texas Education Service Centers working collectively to strengthen family engagement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: HMH is a large education services and curriculum provider serving K-12 districts across Texas and the U.S. It overlaps with Region 9's curriculum and assessment service lines but operates as a commercial vendor rather than a public intermediate unit.
• NYSED - Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES): New York's BOCES are the structural analogue to Texas ESCs — regional, state-recognized intermediate service units providing shared instructional and operational services to component school districts. Comparable role, funding model, and mandate, but operating outside Texas.
• CESA (Cooperative Educational Service Agencies) - Wisconsin: Wisconsin's 12 CESAs serve as regional intermediate education units, providing shared services, professional development, and special education support to public school districts — the same intermediate-unit role that Texas ESCs like Region 9 fill.

Direct peers

• Education Service Center Region 20: Region 20 ESC serves the San Antonio area as one of the 20 Texas regional ESCs. It mirrors Region 9's role, service catalog, and TEA-funded operating model within its own geographic catchment.
• Education Service Center Region 11: Region 11 ESC serves the Fort Worth/White Settlement area. As a neighboring north Texas ESC, it is a direct peer in mission and service mix, though serving a more urbanized district base.
• Education Service Center Region 13: Region 13 ESC serves the Austin/Central Texas area and operates under the same state-designated ESC framework as Region 9. It is a direct functional peer providing instructional, administrative, and student support services to member districts.
• Education Service Center Region 10: Region 10 ESC serves the Dallas/Richardson area with the identical TEA-designated ESC mandate as Region 9. Comparable in mission, service portfolio, and state-funding model, though serving a larger and more urbanized district footprint.
• Education Service Center Region 12: Region 12 ESC serves the Waco/Central Texas area under the same TEA-designated ESC structure. It is a direct peer to Region 9 with comparable service offerings and state-funding dependency.
• Education Service Center Region 4: Region 4 ESC is one of the 20 Texas regional Education Service Centers serving the Houston area. It is the closest structural peer to Region 9, delivering the same TEA-mandated menu of academic, administrative, and student support services to its member districts.

Others

• Discovery Education: Discovery Education is a core technology partner of Region 9 ESC, providing instructional content and digital resources to districts. As a vendor that Region 9 helps deploy to its member districts, it is an adjacent ecosystem participant.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/region9esc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/region-9-ed-service-center

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Region 9 Education Service Center