Module 17: San Diego County Office of Education

The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) is the county-level education agency that supports the region’s 43 school districts, 130+ charter schools, and several specialized student programs, serving approximately 780 schools and 480,000 students. SDCOE acts as a bridge between the California Department of Education and local schools by providing guidance, resources, and direct services. It also operates programs for students with the greatest needs, including youth in foster care, juvenile justice, or experiencing homelessness, through its Juvenile Court and Community Schools.

San Diego Board of Education Goals

SDCOE is guided by its North Star: To reduce poverty and increase belonging through public education.

The San Diego County Board of Education has established four goals to guide this work:

• Connect education to careers and workforce needs
• Provide targeted support and opportunities to underserved students
• Demonstrate leadership and scale innovation
• Maximize resources and foster a strong organizational culture

SDCOE's 2025-30 Strategic Priorities

To support SDCOE's North Star goals, SDCOE's 2025-30 Strategic Plan centers on two key priorities:

1. Foster Belonging: transform internal policies and structures to build trust, collaboration, inclusivity, transparency, and equity across SDCOE staff, students, families, and partners
2. Improve Student Outcomes: champion shared responsibility for student success through transformative, equity driven educational experiences.

These priorities are supported by seven outcome goals focused on building a culture of belonging, transparency, and growth within SDCOE, while advancing student achievement, sense of belonging in schools, and college and career readiness across the region. To learn more, SDCOE's Strategic Plan 2025-30 can be found English and Spanish.

Partnership with Schools

SDCOE collaborates with school districts and charter schools across San Diego County, providing curriculum guidance, professional development, special education support, safety planning, and fiscal oversight.

They also help districts implement systems such as Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and college and career readiness strategies. Through these partnerships, SDCOE enhances outcomes for all students, especially those facing systemic challenges.

Community Schools

SDCOE supports more than 150 Community Schools across the region as a Regional Technical Assistance Center for the California Community Schools Partnership Program.

Through partnerships with HHSA, local organizations, and families, Community Schools create stronger connections between students and the support systems around them. The goal is to ensure students feel safe, seen, and supported so they can fully engage in learning.

These campuses serve as hubs where students and families can access mental health care, physical health services, academic support, and other community resources, all in one place.

Essentials for Community School Transformation

The Essentials for Community School Transformation expands a school into a place where educators, local community members, families, and students work together to strengthen conditions for student learning and healthy development.

These conditions include building strong, trusting relationships, engaging in inclusive decision-making, and creating a thriving community. It is in this environment that schools are able to generate optimal, “whole child” conditions for student learning and development. This is accomplished through the integrated implementation of the six key practices:

1. Powerful student and family engagement
2. Collaborative leadership and shared power and voice
3. Expanded and enriched learning opportunities
4. Rigorous, community-connected classroom instruction
5. Culture of belonging, safety, and care
6. Integrated systems of support

Partnership with Health & Human Services Agency

SDCOE works closely with the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency and is recognized Live Well Partner.

SDCOE Resources

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For administrative information or to provide feedback about the SchooLink training program, please email BHSContactUs.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov with subject line: SchooLink.