ESC Region 12 assists districts and campuses locate opportunities for purchasing online databases from a variety of sources at significant discounts. Sources for online databases are as follows:

State Funded K-12 Database Program
During the 2007 session, the Texas State Legislature added Rider 88 to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) budget. Rider 88 directs the Commissioner of Education to transfer amounts not to exceed $2.5 million each year of the 2008-2009 biennium to TSLAC for the purpose of acquiring "online research and information resources for libraries in public schools, and for administrative expenses."
TEA, TSLAC, and Education Service Center Region 20 are collaborating in the implementation of this program. For more information on this program, contact ESC Region 20.
Non-public schools may order the same package through Digital Knowledge Central.

Digital Knowledge Central
DKC is an ESC-20 statewide initiative that exists to provide participating Texas public and non public schools with a comprehensive collection of current, relevant online resources that supplement and enhance K-12 instruction and digital literacy. DKC's low statewide negotiated pricing offers a solution to fit different budgets. To order Digital Knowledge Central databases, please complete and send your Purchase Order directly to
ESC Region 20. ESC Region 12 will still provide support and training on these databases, but ESC Region 20 will take your order. For more information on the DKC databases, please visit the DKC web site.

Facts on File
Instructional Media Center Services members receive Facts on File free of charge as a part of their membership fee. Other campuses interested in receiving this service may purchase it from the Texas Educational Technology “Group” Purchasing Cooperative (TETPC) sponsored by ESC Region 11.

Other Databases
The Texas Educational Technology “Group” Purchasing Cooperative (TETPC) includes many databases in addition to Facts on File. To order the databases in this cooperative, enter your order online at the TETPC web site. Then submit your purchase order to ESC Region XI.