Clackamas ESD outlines local service plan to North Clackamas board, flags early-childhood funding shortfall
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Summary
Clackamas Education Service District presented its annual local service plan to the North Clackamas board, detailed services and value delivered to districts and warned that early childhood special education funding is underfunded and at risk.
Clackamas Education Service District (ESD) leaders presented their required annual local service plan to the North Clackamas School District Board of Directors on Jan. 16 and urged continued local advocacy for early childhood special education funding.
Larry Didway, superintendent of Clackamas ESD, said the local service plan—required by state law—describes services provided to the county’s 10 districts and summarized materials provided in the board packet, including a fiscal‑year review and an annual report. Didway said the report shows more than $20,600,000 in total services delivered to districts in the past year and nearly $4,200,000 in direct revenue returned to North Clackamas.
Didway and board members discussed early-learning and early-intervention work, including a free preschool program, screenings and partnerships to support young learners. In response to board questions about how families are connected to early-intervention services, Didway said referrals come through physicians, social workers, educators and other community members as part of the ESD’s Child Find efforts and resource network.
Didway emphasized a funding risk: early childhood special education is federally required but funded separately from the state school fund, and he described the current biennium as “woefully underfunded.” He warned that some regional providers have considered declining state contracts because available funding does not allow them to meet federal service requirements.
The ESD also called out work on literacy supports, professional development for educators, data and technology services, and partnerships with Clackamas Community College. Didway invited board members to a public meetings law training (Jan. 28) and offered copies of the ESD’s legislative-priorities flyer.
Board members asked for further information on how the ESD engages home-based child-care providers and whether the ESD could share its proposal to the Oregon Department of Education regarding literacy support; Didway agreed to share the documents. The presentation was a discussion item; the board will take up any formal approval at a future meeting.
