History

In 1967 the Texas Legislature directed that the State Board of Education provide, by rules and regulations, for the establishment and operation of regional Education Service Centers (ESCs). Twenty Regional Service Centers were established to provide services to school districts throughout the state. The Centers are service organizations, not regulatory arms of the Texas Education Agency, and participation by schools in services of the centers is voluntary.

Chapter 8 of the Texas Education Code, enacted by the 75th Texas Legislature in 1997, specified the following purposes of ESCs:

"Regional Education Service Centers shall:
1. assist school districts in improving student performance in each region of the system;
2. enable school districts to operate more efficiently and economically; and
3. implement initiatives assigned by the legislature or the commissioner." 
 
EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS FOCUS ON THE WORD IN THE MIDDLE: SERVICE.

Service to, and support of, educators in helping students succeed is at the heart of everything that we do. Every service we provide was developed at the request of schools and we pride ourselves on being responsive to the needs of educators and the communities that they serve.

Region 6 ESC VISION:

Dedicated to Serve.

Region 6 ESC MISSION:

The mission of Region 6 ESC is to empower the educational community to achieve excellence.

REGION 6 ESC WILL:

• Communicate effectively. 
• Utilize technology to enhance services. 
• Seek and manage organizational resources. 
• Recruit and retain quality personnel. 
• Promote high student performance.

Region 6 ESC BELIEF STATEMENTS:

• We are here to serve.
• We are committed to excellence.
• Teamwork is crucial to success.

The Region 6 Education Service Center is located in beautiful southeast Texas in the piney woods, 60 miles north of Houston. Region 6 encompasses 12,400 square miles that includes 15 counties and 56 school districts, numerous private schools, and 12 charter schools.

Region 6 serves over 150,000 students and over 20,000 teachers and staff members. The region demographics include primarily rural districts that are highly multi-ethnic and reflect the trend of growing diversity that is common in much of the entire state. More than 48% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunches. Region 6 districts have consistently increased student achievement levels to meet the state assessment standards that have evolved over the years. A varied economy includes agriculture, petroleum, energy, forestry, manufactured products, Sam Houston State University and Texas A & M University, and the state prison system. Recreation and tourism are also vital to the region which includes the Sam Houston and Davy Crockett National Forests, part of the Big Thicket National Preserve, Lake Livingston, and several other area parks and lakes.

The ESC 6 Executive Directors include Max Schlotter (1967-1988), Bobby Roberts (1988- 1999), Thomas Poe (1999-2014), and Michael Holland (2014-Present).