Special Education

The Auglaize County Educational Service Center (ESC) is dedicated to supporting students with diverse educational needs through our specialized programs. We offer tailored support for students with emotional and behavioral challenges through our Emotional Disturbance (ED) Program, as well as comprehensive services for those with multiple disabilities. Our goal is to provide a nurturing, individualized learning environment that helps each student reach their highest potential, regardless of their specific needs.

School-Age Special Education Programs and Services
At the Auglaize County Educational Service Center, we are committed to providing high-quality, specialized services for students with low-incidence disabilities from kindergarten through age 22. Our programs are designed to support students with Autism, developmental delays, multiple disabilities, and significant social-emotional needs.

We offer a continuum of services tailored to meet each student’s unique strengths and challenges, focusing on academic achievement, functional skill development, communication, social-emotional learning, vocational training and independence. Our multidisciplinary teams—including intervention specialists, paraprofessionals, behavior specialists, and related service providers—collaborate closely with families and partner districts to ensure individualized, student-centered support.

Through structured, supportive classroom environments and evidence-based practices, we strive to help students make meaningful progress toward their educational and life goals, while promoting inclusion, dignity, and lifelong learning.


School Age ACESC Special Education Program Structure

  • Self-contained setting with one teacher, two program paraprofessional, 
  • Classroom size of approximately 8 students
  • Programming offered from Kindergarten through the age of 22


Programming for Students

  • With moderate/ intensive educational needs, including multiple disabilities, autism, etc. 
  • With significant adaptive behavior deficits whose needs require intensive adult prompting and instruction
  • Who may have significant barriers to functional communication
  • Whose needs are best met in a self-contained LRE with smaller class sizes 
  • Who benefit from a functional curriculum aligned to Ohio Academic Learning Standards - Extended with significant modifications and accommodations


Specially Designed Programming 

  • Direct instruction of all content areas aligned to the academic learning standards-extended
  • Community based instruction embedded throughout instructional units to generalize skills
  • Systematic and direct instruction of social skills 
  • Direct instruction in daily living skills, pre-vocational/ vocational skills, functional communication, and adaptive behavior skills
  • Direct instruction of strategies/ methods to self-regulate behavior and daily routines
  • Integration of school work experiences and community work experiences for students of transition age (18-22)
  • Participation with same age peers in school activities and/ or classes as appropriate

Placement Procedures

Auglaize County ESC collaborates with local school districts—New Knoxville, New Bremen, Minster, Waynesfield, St. Marys, and Wapakoneta—to place students in our programs. For more information or to discuss program options, please contact:


Amy Becher
Director of Special Education
Phone: 419-739-0128
Email: abecher@auglaizeesc.org

Explore how our programs can make a meaningful impact on your child's educational journey.