The partner Ohio school districts trust
Ohio Public Schools Insurance
From playgrounds and classroom equipment to student accidents and crisis events, school districts face very complex vulnerabilities. We help you improve safety and be prepared for the unexpected.
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Expertise That Goes Beyond the Policy
Administrators face enough challenges already: aging infrastructure, staffing shortages, information security, and safety compliance, on top of the work of running a district. Our tools and risk management support are built to give that time back.
AppAssist™
Does the heavy lifting on your coverage application, saving your staff time and reducing errors, without the paperwork burden falling on your team.
ValueCheck™
Works alongside carriers and professional appraisers to make sure your buildings and contents are valued accurately, so you're neither over-insured nor exposed at claim time.
Beyond the policy, our risk management team builds a customized annual action plan for your district, covering:
- Employment Practices (EPLI)
- Workplace Compliance
- Employee Handbooks
- Job Descriptions
- Transportation Safety
- Bus Driver Training Programs
- OSHA and ADA Compliance Support
Access to Ohio's Leading School Carriers & Programs
We bring a wide range of choices to the table, so your board can select the structure that best fits your district.
Phelan Insurance Agency partners with top school carriers, including Liberty Mutual, Utica National, Selective, and Wright Specialty. We also partner with the leading risk sharing pools for Ohio school districts, Southwestern Ohio EPC.
Many districts prefer to stand on their own and be insured by a traditional carrier. It’s a sound approach, and we place those programs all the time. Over the last 10 years, however, a growing number of Ohio districts have moved to shared risk programs.
How Ohio’s Leading Shared School Programs Compare
Ohio districts have more than one proven path to group-based coverage, and each program is built differently. Here is how Southwestern Ohio EPC, Ohio School Plan, and SORSA compare on the benefits that matter most to your board. We help you weigh every option on its merits and choose with confidence.
| Feature/Benefit | Southwestern Ohio EPC Plan | Ohio School Plan (OSP) | SORSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program type | Member-owned purchasing cooperative; places coverage with commercial carriers on members' behalf | Self-insured risk pool (Hylant administered) | Member-owned risk-sharing consortium |
| Years serving Ohio schools | 57+ years (est. 1968) | 20+ years (est. 2006) | 23+ years (est. 2002) |
| Ohio school districts participating | 349+ | Not publicly stated | 106+ |
| Dedicated claims administration with education-sector experience | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Risk management and loss control resources | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Property & casualty insurance program | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recognized benchmark program of a statewide school association | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Governed by member school districts, not an outside company | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workers' compensation group rating bundled in | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| District purchasing power beyond insurance (buses, furniture, supplies, utilities, technology, and more) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Employee benefits bundled in (medical, dental, vision, life) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero cost to join | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| One partner for insurance, benefits, and purchasing | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
*Figures reflect publicly available information and EPC program documentation as of September 2026. Contact Phelan Insurance Agency for a current, district-specific quote.
Ready to See What We Can Do for Your District?
Every school’s coverage picture is different. A quick conversation is the fastest way to find out where we can help create real value for yours.
Schedule a discovery call with our team, by phone or virtual meeting, whichever works best for your schedule. Most districts find 20-30 minutes is enough to know whether it’s worth pursuing further.
There’s no cost, no commitment, and no pressure either way.
Playground & Facility Safety
Over 200,000 playground injuries occur annually, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Our Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) provide thorough, on-site evaluations covering:
- All-aged Playground Evaluations
- Bleacher Inspections
- Compliance with CPSC, ATSM, and ADA Standards
- Actionable Recommendations
Coverage Built for Every Ohio District
We can place the full range of coverage your district needs, backed by carriers and claims teams who understand education risk.
General Liability
Errors & Omissions
School Property
EPLI
School Auto
Professional Liability
Umbrella
Cybersecurity
FAQ
What is the EPC Plan?
The EPC Plan is placed through the Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council (EPC), a member owned purchasing cooperative that has served Ohio public schools since 1968. Rather than pooling member losses the way a self-insured risk pool does, EPC uses the combined scale of 349+ member districts to negotiate property and casualty coverage with commercial carriers on your district’s behalf, alongside employee benefits, workers’ compensation group rating, and non-insurance purchasing programs.
How is EPC different from Ohio School Plan or SORSA?
Ohio School Plan and SORSA are both self-insured or risk-sharing pools, meaning member districts jointly fund and share in the pool’s losses. EPC is structured differently: it’s a purchasing cooperative that places your district’s own coverage with commercial carriers, using group scale to negotiate stronger terms. In practice, that means your district gets dedicated coverage rather than a share of pooled risk, plus access to EPC’s broader purchasing programs beyond insurance.
Can our district get benefits and workers' compensation through EPC too?
Yes. EPC membership also gives your district access to self-funded medical, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, along with workers’ compensation group rating through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, all through the same membership.
How do claims get handled?
Claims are managed by a dedicated administration team with education-sector experience, so your district isn’t navigating a generalist claims process. Reporting procedures and contacts are provided directly to member districts.
Is our school district eligible to join EPC?
Eligibility extends to Ohio public school boards of education, educational service centers, boards of developmental disabilities, and chartered nonprofit schools. Districts outside the Southwestern Ohio region can also join as affiliates.
When does EPC coverage renew?
EPC coverage renews on July 1 for every member district, aligning with the standard Ohio school fiscal year. This gives all districts a consistent renewal date across the program, which also makes it easier to plan a transition: most districts coordinate a switch to EPC around their current policy’s expiration to line up with this July 1 date.
Will switching to EPC disrupt our current coverage?
No. Phelan Insurance Agency manages the transition to align with your current policy’s expiration date, and your district’s claims history is factored into the proposal process the same way it would be with any carrier change.
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