History of the OECN

1979

The Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN) was created in 1979 by the Ohio Legislature under ORC 3301.075. Originally there were 27 data centers providing financial accounting support to school districts. Over time the owner-members of a few data centers voluntarily merged to create greater financial and operational efficiencies.

mid-1980s

DA-Sites (today known as ITCs) formed the Management Council to represent them on a statewide basis.

1998

Bruce Hawkins hired as Chief Executive Officer of the Management Council.

2005

New Ohio Administrative Code rules were adopted to rename “DA Sites” to “Information Technology Centers” (ITCs). This new name better recognized their role in providing a shared technology services to Ohio’s schools.

2015

Geoff Andrews hired as Chief Executive Officer of the Management Council.

2019

Today, there are 18 member ITCs serving over 1.6 million students in 900 school districts, career centers, community schools, and educational service centers.

Virtually all Ohio schools have several times the recommended network connectivity standard of 100 kilobits per student. Many districts are already meeting the next target of 1 megabits per student. Fiber is the most common infrastructure that serves Ohio districts.

The Management Council, other OECN partners, and various technical and educational organizations continue to make sure that students have appropriate connectivity, support, software, and digital resources to get the education they will need to succeed in the future.

Today

There are 18 member Information Technology Centers serving over 1.4 million students in 700 school districts, career centers, community schools, and educational service centers.

Virtually all of Ohio schools subscribe to several times the national standard of 100 kilobits per student (the rare exception being schools electing less due to cultural traditions). Many districts are already meeting the next standard of 1 megabit per student (1,000 kilobits). Fiber or equivalent capacity serves all the districts. The Management Council and its various technical and educational divisions (such as INFOhio, Ohio K12 Help and Ohio State Software Solutions) continue to make sure that students have appropriate connectivity, support, software, and digital resources to get the education they will need to succeed in the future.

The Management Council has 70+ employees dedicated to our mission.

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