About Region 4

Message from the Executive Director

More than fifty years ago, the Texas Legislature demonstrated its commitment to excellence in education by establishing regional education service centers with the purpose of helping school districts and charter schools improve student performance, operate more efficiently, and implement state initiatives.

Since then, Region 4 Education Service Center has focused on providing responsive and effective support that promotes student success and allows flexibility of resources to target the specific needs of our students and communities.

Our core purpose of Excellence in Service for Children is reflected in the products and services we provide. From instruction to ancillary services, we focus on helping educators solve instructional challenges, build and reinforce sustainable infrastructures, and support school leaders in their mission to provide the highest quality education to all students.

Rodney Watson, PhD

About Region 4 Education Service Center

Region 4 Education Service Center (Region 4) is one of 20 regional education service centers established by the Texas Legislature in 1967 to assist school districts and charter schools in improving efficiencies and student performance. Regional education service centers are nonregulatory, intermediate education units. Texas Education Code, Chapter 8, gives each school district the opportunity to voluntarily be served by and participate with a regional education service center.

Region 4 serves an eight-county area comprised of 48 public school districts and 41 open-enrollment charter schools, representing more than 1.2 million students, 165,000 educators, and 1,500 campuses.

School Districts (by County)

Open-Enrollment Charter Schools

Region 4 Demographics

Map of Region 4

Our Purpose and Commitment

The purpose of regional education service centers, as established by the Texas Legislature, is to—

• Assist school districts in improving student performance
• Enable school districts to operate more efficiently and economically
• Implement initiatives as assigned by the Texas Legislature or Commissioner of Education

Core Purpose

Board of Directors

Region 4 Education Service Center is governed by an eight-member Board of Directors, seven of whom are elected by school districts’ Boards of Trustees. A nonvoting member representing charter schools is appointed by the Texas Commissioner of Education. Elected directors serve 3-year terms on a staggered basis. The Board sets policies and goals for the Service Center, and the Executive Director and Region 4 staff are responsible for ensuring that these policies and goals are met.

Region 4 Receives Financial Reporting Award

For the 28th consecutive year, Region 4 has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association and Association of School Business Officials International, respectively.

These certificates are awarded to state and local governments that go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure. The goal of these programs is to ensure that users of the financial statements have the information necessary to determine the financial health of the organization.

Region 4 Leadership