Frequently Asked Questions

RESCs are nonprofit, fee-for-service public education agencies created under CT General Statute 10-66a in 1972. Governed by local school board members, they are designed to give public school districts affordable, high-quality educational programs and administrative solutions tailored to regional needs.

The RESC Alliance is a statewide partnership formed in the 1990s by Connecticut’s six Regional Educational Service Centers (RESCs). It allows the six individual agencies to pool resources and expertise so that all public schools across Connecticut have equal access to regional programs, cost-saving operations, and specialized educational services.

The Alliance is comprised of six regional centers covering all of Connecticut:ACES CESCREC EASTCONN EdAdvance LEARN

RESCs do not have a local tax base and do not receive direct funding through Connecticut’s primary Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grants. Instead, they operate on a nonprofit, fee-for-service model sustained by a combination of revenue streams:Fee-for-Service: Local school districts pay RESCs directly for specific services they use such as special education programs, professional development workshops, and administrative support.State & Federal Grants: RESCs receive state appropriations and competitive federal grants to administer specific programs, including interdistrict magnet school operating grants, early childhood initiatives, transportation, and the CT Teacher Residency Program. Contracted & Co-Op Services: Revenue is generated by coordinating regional services, such as shared student transportation systems and cooperative purchasing programs for member towns and districts.

RESCs are governed by executive boards composed of members elected from local participating boards of education, ensuring direct accountability to the school districts they serve. Established under Connecticut General Statute 10-66a, RESCs are also subject to state statutory mandates, financial audits, and program oversight by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE).

RESCs save Connecticut schools millions through cooperative purchasing, cost-saving operational programs, and shared student transportation. They deliver customizable professional learning that rapidly adapts to changing state legislation and teaching standards. Additionally, RESCs secure competitive federal, state, and foundation grants that districts couldn't qualify for alone.

The RESC Alliance advocates at the state legislature for laws and funding that address the needs of Connecticut's public schools. They partner with state leadership and education advocacy groups including the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), the Office of Early Childhood (OEC), the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), and the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS).

Beyond operational support, RESCs provide specialized instruction and resources across all grade levels. Key offerings include special education programs (serving over 7,000 students annually), early childhood initiatives, magnet school management, adult education, and ongoing professional learning for teachers.

Through the RESC Alliance's cooperative structure, access to one RESC means access to the resources, programs, and expertise of all six RESCs state-wide.

Every Connecticut public school district is geographically assigned a designated "home" RESC. While districts do not join the RESC Alliance as a separate entity, connecting with their local RESC automatically grants them seamless access to the shared programs, purchasing power, and specialized expertise of all six RESCs statewide.