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Northwest Regional ESD presents local service plan; warns early childhood special‑education funding is strained
Summary
Northwest Regional ESD leaders summarized services available to Beaverton and 19 other districts, and urged trustees to advocate for increased early childhood special‑education funding after state budget shortfalls forced staff reductions and program cuts.
Representatives from the Northwest Regional Education Service District presented the 2025–26 local service plan to the Beaverton School Board and asked member districts to approve the plan in February.
Becky Timchuck, chair of the Northwest Regional ESD board, outlined the ESD’s coverage across 20 districts and stressed the importance of shared services including early intervention and early childhood special education. “One of the most important functions of why I serve on the Northwest Regional ESD is to take care of those children that will eventually be coming to our school districts,” Timchuck said.
Dan Goldman, Northwest Regional ESD superintendent, described the services the ESD provides to Beaverton students — from early‑literacy coaching and LETRS professional development to specialized regional inclusive services for low‑incidence disabilities and outdoor‑school programming. He cautioned that state funding for early childhood special education (EIECSC) and other contracts has not kept pace with need: “EIECSC is in a bad way in the state budget… we would implore our partners… to make it clear that we need more investment in that program.”
Goldman told the board the ESD had recently experienced rolling budget challenges and staff reductions in early childhood programs: he cited a recent $700,000 negative swing and said the ESD is pressing for state budget increases. He reported the ESD is advocating for a materially higher funding level than what appears in preliminary state budget materials and urged district boards and legislators to press for increases to early‑intervention and regional services funding.
Why it matters: The ESD supplies specialized staff and programs that many districts cannot sustain on their own. Shortfalls in state EIECSC and regional services funding can reduce local capacity to serve infants and preschoolers with disabilities, and increase future K–12 special‑education demands.
Next steps: Beaverton trustees heard the presentation; the ESD local service plan will come back for the board’s formal approval at the district’s February meeting. ESD leaders asked districts to join in state advocacy for increased early childhood and regional‑inclusive services funding.
