Regional Advisory Council (RAC)

House Bill 115, which became effective September 21, 2006, created 16 Educational Regional Service Systems (ERSS) across the state to support state and regional initiatives and efforts to improve school effectiveness and student achievement.

The ERSS contains several structural components, including 16 Regional Advisory Council charged with identifying regional needs and priorities and developing policies to coordinate the delivery of services to school districts.

HB 115 has defined the membership of the RAC, which became operational as of July 1, 2007. The membership includes:

  • The superintendent of each ESC within the region
  • The director of the special education regional resource center in the region
  • The superintendent of the school district in the region with the smallest student population
  • The superintendent of the school district in the regions with the largest student population
  • The director of each data acquisition site located in the region
  • One representative of a four-year institution of higher education located within the region
  • One representative of a two-year institution of higher education located within the region
  • The treasurer of the Fiscal Agent for the region
  • One member of the board of education of a city school district in the region
  • One member of the board of education of an exempted village school district in the region
  • One member of the board of education of a local school district in the region
  • One member of the governing board of an ESC in the region
  • One superintendent of a city, exempted village or local school district in the region
  • One superintendent of a joint vocational school district in the region
  • One representative of business
  • One employee of each educational technology center that provides services in the region
  • One classroom teacher

In its advisory role, the RAC will meet regularly to make recommendations to the regional fiscal agent. The RAC also establishes the following four subcommittees: special education, educational technology, school improvement, data acquisition site and professional development. The subcommittee role is to make recommendations to the RAC in each of these specialized areas.