FY24 High-Performing ESC Application FAQs

General Questions


General Questions

1. How much subsidy will high-performing ESCs generate in FY24?

The high performing designation is no longer a factor in determining state operating funds  in FY24.  

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2. Do ESCs have to use and submit the ECS Cost Savings spreadsheet?

Yes. ESCs must use and submit this spreadsheet. Applications without the spreadsheet are incomplete and will not be accepted.

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3. Does each primary service have to generate a minimum of 5% cost savings?

No. Total cost savings across all 5 primary services must generate a minimum of 5% cost savings. The ESC cost savings will automatically be calculated in the excel spreadsheet.

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4. What year are “cost savings” calculated for? FY23 or FY24?

FY23.

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5. Do all clients have to receive all 5 primary services?

No. Different clients can receive different primary services. All clients do not need to receive all 5 primary services. 

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6. Do ESCs calculate “cost savings” based on the actual price incurred by them to provide primary services or the actual price charged to the client to provide the primary service?

ESCs should calculate “cost savings” based on the price charged to the client by the ESC for a primary service.

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7. If I list a primary service, do I have to include all of the clients who receive this service?

Yes. If you provide a service to five school districts, all five school districts must be reported through the application. Primary services can serve different clients, but all clients receiving a specific service must be reported.

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8. When is the application due?

Wednesday, August 31, 2023 at 4:30 pm.

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9. When will ESCs be notified of application results?

No later than October 31, 2023. 

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10. Who should I contact with questions about this application?

Prabir Sarkar (prabir.sarkar@education.ohio.gov or 614-728-7849) or Elena Sanders (elena.sanders@education.ohio.gov or 614-752-1561).

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11. Can the ESC Cost Savings spreadsheet be edited to add rows as needed to accommodate a larger number of clients?
Yes.

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12. Does the ESC cost savings data have to be submitted in Excel format or can it be submitted as a PDF?
ESC cost savings data should be submitted in the Excel spreadsheet and not in a PDF format.

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13. Do the cover page and/or ESC Cost Savings spreadsheet count as part of the 5-page maximum narrative?
No.

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14. If ESCs are collecting salary schedules and other supporting evidence should they include this with their submissions? Or, because that would be quite voluminous, should they simply hold on to the supporting documentation in the event ODE needs additional information?
Yes.  Please do not submit that information, but detail the methodology used to arrive at the amounts.

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15. Can a service that is also provided to non-clients be included as one of the 5 service areas as long as non-clients are pulled out? (e.g., an ESC-run purchasing cooperative may include other local political subdivisions that are not client districts. This inclusion drives down the costs for everyone. When reporting, the ESC would only include client districts).
Yes.

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16. If a district chooses to have its IDEA funds sent to an ESC for the provision of services and the ESC only charges excess cost should the title funds be included in the calculation of the price charged to the district since the district would otherwise receive those funds?
Yes.

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17. Many ESCs utilize the $6.50 mandatory local contribution to provide services to client districts at no additional cost. Because this is a required component of ESC funding, would the $6.50 per student be considered as part of ESC funding and not included in the price of the service to districts or would it be included in the price to the district?
If an ESC is using part of the funds received through the $6.50 per pupil deduction from the traditional district to the ESC, and the ESC is using that service in their application, the amount needs to be included as a “charge” to the district. While the $6.50 per pupil deduction is in state law, the funds ultimately originated with the District. Conversely, if the district is using the state subsidy, that revenue is not required to be captured in the service.

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18. Many ESCs pursue and secure grants on behalf of their client school districts every year and are, thus, able to charge $0 due to a grant. Are ESCs able to use this as an example of the cost savings they offer to school districts since it is a service the districts would otherwise not receive or need to provide for on their own?
Yes.

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Last Modified: 6/26/2023 1:50:35 PM