In 1967 the Texas Legislature directed that the State Board of Education provide, by rules and regulations, for the establishment and operation of regional education service centers. Twenty regional education service centers provide services to school districts. The centers are service organizations, not regulatory arms of the Texas Education Agency, and participation by schools in services of the centers is voluntary.

Chapter 8 of the Texas Education Code, enacted by the 75th Texas Legislature in 1997, specified the following purposes of education service centers:

"Regional education service centers shall:

1. assist school districts in improving student performance in each region of the system;
2. enable school districts to operate more efficiently and economically; and,
3. implement initiatives assigned by the legislature or the commissioner."

Centers do not possess tax levying or bonding authority and rely on grants and contracts for funding. Revenues are received from three primary sources: state funds; federal funds; and, contracts with school districts.

Region 6 ESC serves 56 school districts and 5 charter schools in the 15 county areas of Austin County, Brazos County, Burleson County, Grimes County, Houston County, Leon County, Madison County, Milam County, Montgomery County, Polk County, Robertson County, San Jacinto County, Trinity County, Walker County, and Washington County.