22
21
ANNUAL
community
REPORT
to the
Inspiring
and leading innovation
in education
Letter from the San Diego County
Superintendent of Schools
Role of the County Oce of Education
and Superintendent of Schools
Role of the San Diego County
Board of Education
Board of Education District Map
Revenue and Expenditures
About San Diego County Students
Whole Child Supports in Juvenile
Court and Community Schools
Helping Students and Employees
Stay Safe
Strengthening Eorts to Recruit
New School Employees
SOUL Academy Central to
Encanto Community
Multi-Factor Authentication
Decreases Cyber Threats
System of Supports Focuses
on Students
Timely Resources Support Educators
Through Challenges
Impact At A Glance
By the Numbers
Enrollment by District
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
A MESSAGE
FROM THE
Superintendent
Dear Partner in Education,
The San Diego County Oce of Education (SDCOE)
is pleased to share our latest annual report. The 2021-22
school year continued to challenge educators and school
employees, but our resilience and strength helped us
continue to make great strides toward educational equity.
We supported our county’s districts and charter schools
through new endeavors such as universal transitional
kindergarten for our youngest learners and ethnic studies
curriculum for high school students. Research is clear
that high-quality education programs for four-year-olds
greatly improves their chances for success in school. And
our older students have consistently asked for represen-
tation in their curriculum and their educators. Our teams
helped our educational partners plan and prepare to in-
tentionally implement these significant program changes.
SDCOE also worked to keep students and sta mem-
bers safe and in school this year through the distribution
of millions of COVID-19 at-home tests and personal
protective equipment to schools and districts across the
county.
The County Oce also invested in creating and launch-
ing a new website that prioritizes accessibility for all users.
Regardless of device or ability, the new SDCOE website
that debuted in January is responsive and focused on
being usable by all community members. Equity isn’t
just something we talk about, but something we incor-
porate into all our eorts with the goal of ensuring that
our students feel loved, valued, and respected with each
held to the highest expectations and given the support to
succeed.
SDCOE exists to empower students in the programs we
operate as well as all of the students who attend schools
throughout San Diego County. We build expertise among
teachers, principals, and school sta members so they
can serve our region’s youth. We help parents become
advocates for their children. We help break down the barri-
ers that keep students from the success they deserve. And
we engage the community as partners so all students thrive
now and in the future.
In a rapidly changing world that’s full of uncertainty, the
role of public schools is more important than ever.
From free meals to academics to a safe space where they
can discuss important issues, schools provide our youth
with access to opportunities so they can grow, learn, and
thrive. Schools are an essential part of our communities
with the power to bring people together in profound ways.
This new school year holds immense possibilities. SDCOE
will continue to be a trusted partner to the districts and
schools in San Diego County. We will also continue to
strengthen relationships with our community partners,
and we will build on the work within our own organization
— looking at practices to ensure equity, recognizing the
people who make SDCOE special, and doing all we can for
the students we directly serve.
This year our annual report is expanding online with a
website that includes more employee and student voices,
and spotlight stories. Visit www.sdcoe.net/Annual-Report
and follow @SanDiegoCOE on social media to stay up-
to-date on county education news and information. If you
would like to learn more about any subject that’s addressed
in the report, please don’t hesitate to contact my oce.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paul Gothold
San Diego County Superintendent of Schools
2
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
THE ROLE OF COUNTY OFFICES
OF EDUCATION
California has a three-level system of public education, which
includes the California Department of Education, county oces
of education, and local school districts. Regulations, funding, and
policy decisions are generally established at the state level, while
the day-to-day delivery of instruction is the responsibility of
the more than 1,000 school districts throughout the state. The
58 county oces of education are the intermediate level of the
public education system. County oces provide a support in-
frastructure for local schools and districts. They also fulfill state
mandates to register teacher credentials, complete employee
background checks, certify school attendance records, and de-
velop countywide programs to serve students with special needs.
THE ROLE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF SCHOOLS
The San Diego County superintendent of schools, appointed by the
County Board of Education, is the chief administrative ocer,
employer, and developer of programs and services as authorized by
state statute or determined by needs or requests. The superintendent
also provides educational leadership and administers mandated services.
The superintendent has direct oversight responsibilities for approving
and assuring school district budgets, calling school district elections,
and assisting with school district emergencies by providing necessary
services. The superintendent is also tasked with developing a three-year
Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) for the schools operat-
ed by the County Oce, and reviewing and approving the LCAPs for
all school districts in San Diego County.
Explore more at
www.sdcoe.net/annual-report
3
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
THE ROLE OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The County Board of Education operates under the authority of the California Constitution,
the state Legislature, California Education Code, and the State Board of Education. Among
other duties, the board is responsible for:
n Adopting the annual County Oce of Education Local Control and
Accountability Plan and budget
n Adopting policies governing the operation of the board
n Acting as the appeals board for student expulsions, interdistrict transfers,
and charter school petitions
n Acting as the County Committee on School District Organization to review
and approve proposals to change the way school district governing board members
are elected
n Hiring and evaluating the county superintendent and establishing the rate of compensation
n Serving as the landlord and owner of property
Through its role of long-range policy development and other critical functions, the board works
with the county superintendent of schools to oer the most eective education programs and
district support services. The board also encourages the involvement of families and communities,
and is a vehicle for citizen access to communicate about SDCOE’s programs and services.
Gregg Robinson
DISTRICT 1
Guadalupe González
DISTRICT 2
Alicia Muñoz
DISTRICT 3
Paulette Donnellon
DISTRICT 4
Rick Shea
DISTRICT 5
4
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
BONSALL
UNIFIED
1
4
3
2
SWEETWATER UNION
HIGH
CHULA VISTA ELEM.
SAN YSIDRO
SOUTH BAY
UNION
CORONADO UNIFIED
LEMON GROVE
NATIONAL
SAN DIEGO
UNIFIED
LA
MESA-
SPRING
VALLEY
CAJON
VALLEY
UNION
JAMUL-DULZURA
UNION
GROSSMONT
UNION
HIGH
DEHESA
ALPINE
UNION
MOUNTAIN EMPIRE
UNIFIED
SANTEE
LAKESIDE UNION
POWAY UNIFIED
RAMONA UNIFIED
JULIAN UNION
JULIAN UNION HIGH
DEL MAR
UNION
SAN
DIEGUITO
UNION
HIGH
SOLANA
BEACH
CARDIFF
RANCHO
SANTA FE
ENCINITAS
UNION
CARLSBAD
UNIFIED
OCEANSIDE
UNIFIED
VISTA
UNIFIED
FALLBROOK UNION
ELEMENTARY
FALLBROOK UNION HIGH
VALLECITOS
VALLEY CENTER-
PAUMA UNIFIED
SAN
MARCOS
UNIFIED
ESCONDIDO
UNION
ESCONDIDO
UNION
HIGH
SAN
PASQUAL
UNION
WARNER UNIFIED
SPENCER
VALLEY
BORREGO
SPRINGS
UNIFIED
5
Board
Areas
5
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Revenue
and Sources
$775,403,990
State Revenue $332,208,685
Local Control $135,551,086
Funding Formula
Other $150,812,076
Federal Revenue $96,686,218
Special Funds $33,126,436
Fees $23,116,629
Interest $3,634,973
Lottery $267,887
Expenditures by
Classification
$716,694,441
Transfers to Districts $332,426,827
Contracted Services $187,015,782
Classified Salaries $58,224,862
Employee Benefits $55,562,054
Certificated Salaries $53,287,044
Capital Outlay $21,613,363
Books and Supplies $8,564,509
SDCOE Revenue
and Expenditures
43%
State Revenue
4%
Special Funds
17%
Local Control
Funding Formula
12%
Federal
Revenue
Other
19%
3% Fees
0% Interest
0% Lottery
3% Capital
Outlay
1% Books and
Supplies
26%
Contracted Services
8%
Classified
Salaries
7%
Certificated
Salaries
8%
Employee
Benefits
46%
Transfers
*2021-22 Unaudited Actuals
6
San Diego
County
Demographics
481,102 K-12 Public School Enrollment
42 School Districts
129 Charter Schools
Source: 2021-22 California Department of Education DataQuest
18.8% Students who are English Learners
50.2% Students who Qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Meals
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
7
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Latinx 48.9%
White
28.5%
Source: 2021-22 California Department of Education DataQuest
San Diego County Demographics
Not reported 1.1%
African American
4.1%
American Indian or
Alaska Native 0.5%
Two or More Races
6.5%
Asian
6.5%
Filipino 3.6%
Pacific Islander 0.4%
Accreditation Process
Highlights Whole Child
Supports in JCCS
During an accreditation renewal process, visiting committee members
commended SDCOE’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCS) sta members for their
eorts to support all students academically, emotionally, and physically.
JCCS renewed its Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association
of Schools and Colleges, or WASC accreditation, this year, which included a
visit from WASC representatives to our school sites.
The accreditation team praised JCCS sta members on multiple levels, and
said it was one of the most powerful visits they’ve ever been involved in.
The chair of the visiting committee stated, “I pride myself on high standards,
and I have to tell you, I have never rated a district/county oce this high.”
WASC accreditation is a school improvement process that serves as the
foundation for quality education. Being accredited is a statement to the community and educa-
tional partners that a school is a trustworthy institution for student learning and committed to
ongoing improvement.
Praise from the visiting committee members helped to validate the hard work of our teachers,
classified sta members, principals, site and central oce leaders, and everyone at SDCOE on
behalf of our students.
Specific compliments from the WASC members focused on addressing the needs of the whole
child, SDCOE’s commitment to professional development, and our strong community part-
nerships that have introduced students to visual and performing arts, college classes, career
opportunities, and more.
“We know we still have work to do, but we’re getting better each day. I believe — and the JCCS
team has demonstrated — that we are on the right path in our eorts to support all students
and provide a future without boundaries,” said Dr. Paul Gothold, San Diego County superin-
tendent of schools.
Explore more at
www.sdcoe.net/annual-report
8
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
In the 2021-22 school year, SDCOE employees managed the delivery and distribution of
more than 1.7 million at-home antigen COVID-19 test kits to K-12 public schools, including
our own campuses.
“At times when at-home test kits were dicult to find or buy, we were thankful to have
received tests from the state and help distribute this additional layer of protection to our
region’s K-12 students,” said Mark Cavassa, executive director of maintenance and operations.
Over winter break, a team of SDCOE employees created a system to ensure quick delivery of
the kits to schools, showcasing an attitude of willingness to help that has been true throughout
the pandemic.
Warehouse sta received the pallets of test kits from the state and broke them down into
allocations for each eligible district and charter school, which then sent trucks and vans to pick
up the shipments.
Test kits continued to be delivered and distributed throughout the school year along with
personal protective equipment, such as masks and hand sanitizer.
Russ Grant, chief information ocer at The Classical Academy charter schools in North
County, said he appreciated the SDCOE team’s willingness to work on weekends and holidays
in order to distribute the test kits. “Thank you to you and your awesome team for working over
the weekend to make the test kits available,” he wrote. “We appreciate you!”
Helping Students
and Employees
Stay Safe
1,200 cans
of sanitation wipes
3 million
at-home test kits
150,000
face masks
3,000 bottles
of hand sanitizer
10
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Strengthening Efforts
to Recruit New School
Employees
SDCOE team members in Human Resource Services have been hard at work to create spaces and
conditions that encourage interested people to make a dierence as school employees.
Over the year, SDCOE hosted two countywide job fairs with dozens of educational employers to
connect hundreds of job seekers with open positions. We also hosted job fairs for specific programs
such as Cuyamaca Outdoor School, which connects 5th and 6th graders with science through
nature, and Monarch School, which serves students experiencing homelessness.
At the Monarch School job fair, seven family members of students received
help to complete recruitment documents. They then were able to take care
of other pre- employment requirements like having their fingerprints taken
and getting tested for tuberculosis. Four also attended a course to get a
food handler certificate.
In addition to in-person events, the Educator Pathways section of the
SDCOE website is part of a bigger eort by Human Resource Services’
Teacher Eectiveness and Preparation team to help school districts hire
qualified, passionate educators and support employees who reflect the
diversity of their communities at a time when there is a shortage of educators in many areas.
“The teaching population isn’t reflective of the student population, and yet we know that this has a
powerful impact on student learning and the likelihood of going to college,” said Dr. Sheiveh Jones,
executive director of Teacher Eectiveness and Preparation.
The website continues to expand and add information on dierent jobs to consider, options to
prepare for those careers, ways to find financial support, and opportunities to connect with
organizations that are hiring.
“The pandemic has shown us the importance of schools in their community, and having the right
people in place to help our young people and families is more important than ever,” Jones said.
11
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
SOUL Academy
Central to Encanto
Community
SOUL Academy exemplifies the community school concept in which conditions are
created for students to thrive by establishing partnerships with community stakeholders to
care for the whole child. SOUL stands for strength, opportunity, unity, and liberation.
“It’s dicult to address the needs of the student without addressing the needs of the
student’s family and the entire community,” said JCCS Executive Director Tracy
Thompson. “If a student is coming to school hungry, or is homeless, scared, or
traumatized — if you don’t address those things, it will hinder academic growth.”
SOUL Academy also includes the only licensed infant/toddler child care center in
the Encanto community, a collaborative eort with SDCOE’s Early Education
Programs and Services department. The state-funded center serves community
families, parenting teens, and children with special needs through the HOPE Infant
Family Support program. All attendees must meet eligibility requirements based on in-
come and need. The center accepts up to 28 infants and toddlers from birth to 3 years
old.
Establishing the infant/toddler center at SOUL Academy was a collective eort
between multiple SDCOE departments, including JCCS Food Services, which was
instrumental in setting up the California Adult and Child Food Program.
12
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Explore more at
www.sdcoe.net/annual-report
Multi-Factor
Authentication
Decreases Cyber
Threats
This year, SDCOE became the first county oce of education in California to fully implement multi-
factor authentication (MFA) and increase its protection of sensitive student and sta information from
cyber threats.
In 2021, the education and research sector was reportedly the most attacked nationwide, making it more
dicult for local educational agencies to keep running the networks and systems that are essential to
support students and school sta members.
While there’s no fool-proof way to remove all threats of cyberattacks, implementing
multi-factor authentication is a proven safeguard that can reduce attacks, such as
data breaches, malware, ransomware, denial of service and other attacks. Multi-factor
authentication is when you use two or more authentication factors to verify your identity,
such as a password or PIN and something you have such as a smart card or fingerprint.
SDCOE implemented its MFA program with more than 1,000 employees while many were
still working remotely, creating best practices that can be followed by others.
“Implementing multi-factor authentication is a significant cultural change of processes and
technologies, which has resulted in very few K-12 local education agencies implementing
MFA nationally,” explained SDCOE’s Chief Information Ocer Terry Loftus. “However,
SDCOE’s eorts are now aiding other districts and schools in their own MFA journey.”
SDCOE’s cybersecurity eorts have been hailed across the state as a model for other
educational agencies. Our Integrated Technology Services team has led MFA workshops for
all California county oces of education and plans to expand to local districts and charter
schools to share best practices.
“Our team is proud to work behind the scenes every day to secure and defend our data
systems,” Loftus said. “By protecting our student and employee data, we’re helping to ensure
that students and educators can keep their focus on the classroom and are maintaining
public trust.”
13
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Taking a whole-child approach and making sure that all students have the
resources they need to develop their academic and social potential is a key focus
and one of our board goals.
SDCOE helps districts and charter schools look at their student data and current
programs to see if there are unmet student needs in academic, mental, emotional,
and social supports. The work is the core of the Multi-Tiered System of Support
(MTSS) framework, where supports expand as the need grows.
“Equity is a key component of the MTSS framework when providing support to
meet the needs of the whole child; understanding that every student does not need
the exact same resources or support,” said Program Specialist Jenée Peevy.
Support to districts and schools includes training, coaching, and technical assistance
in MTSS and positive behavioral interventions and supports, as well as training and
technical assistance in restorative practices, social and emotional learning, and the
value of authentic student voice.
“The goal of this department is to build capacity,” said Director Felicia
Singleton. “We really want to leave the knowledge and the skills with the districts
so that the climate and culture shifts positively. Essentially, we strive to work with
educators to create the conditions for both students and adults to thrive.”
SDCOE has supported eorts in Oceanside Unified School District (OUSD) over
the past four years to train more than 750 sta members in restorative practices,
which has resulted in a dramatic decrease in student suspensions and expulsions.
“We are really grateful for the partnership from SDCOE and look forward to con-
tinuing to grow our understanding, implementation, and application of restorative
practices in OUSD,” said Dr. Jordan Sparks, OUSD’s director of diversity, equity,
and inclusion.
System of Supports
Focuses on Students
14
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
The day after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February, SDCOE teams acted
quickly to gather resources to support students, families, and educators through an
online guide. Within a month, the webpage had been viewed nearly 80,000 times
by people in more than 150 countries.
Just a few hours after news of the horrifying violence against teachers and
students at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, SDCOE published resources to
help educators and families process events with their students. The webpage quickly
received more than 55,000 pageviews by people in all 50 states and dozens of
countries.
Challenging topics come up often, whether it’s a current event or a recognition
month or day with political considerations. Our students want and need to talk
about what they feel and see in a safe, welcoming environment. Schools and
classrooms can play an important role in creating those spaces.
SDCOE’s online resource guides developed by curriculum and instruction experts
and student wellness and mental health professionals helps educators and other
adults prepare and respond quickly and in an age-appropriate way.
Timely Resources
Support Educators
Through Challenges
SDCOE’s new website platform was designed to
be accessible for all users, regardless of ability
or device, and its content easily found by search
engines, which helps get the timely tools in the
hands of those who need them.
15
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Software Trains School Employees
to Recognize Cyber Threats
The Red Herring Phishing Training Platform, created by SDCOE to
address a need for low-cost, eective cybersecurity training, has grown to
nearly 177,000 users in 115 local educational agencies across California.
This system enables schools, districts, and county oces of education to
simulate phishing attacks and help train sta members to better identify
suspicious emails and other security threats.
COPES Connects Youth to
Mental Health Supports
SDCOE and the San Diego County Behavioral Health Department were
awarded a four-year, $6 million dollar grant through the Mental Health
Services Act. Creating Opportunities in Preventing and Eliminating
Suicide, or COPES, will build the capacity of 17 school districts and 17
charter schools to support suicide prevention, intervention and postvention,
mental health promotion and stigma reduction, and coordinate referral
pathways to better connect youth in need with timely help.
Equity Conference Grows Collective Eorts
The annual Equity Conference was the largest yet this year with more
than 1,500 in-person attendees coming from across the country. They
gathered at the San Diego Convention Center to learn more about
educational equity and grow the region’s collective eorts to ensure every
student has the opportunity and access to thrive regardless of their race, ZIP
code, or ability. The Equity Conference featured students from across the
county who shared their experiences in schools and how adults can
work to create welcoming, safe spaces for everyone.
SDCOE Chosen to Lead Homeless
Education Technical Assistance Center
SDCOE was awarded a $4.5 million grant by the California Department
of Education to operate one of three statewide Homeless Education
Technical Assistance Centers. These centers were selected to provide
support and technical assistance to other county oces of education.
This regional approach will ensure the oces have the capacity, resources,
and tools required to support their local educational agencies with the
implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act,
which was designed to improve the identification, educational stability,
access, support, and academic achievement of children and youth
experiencing homelessness.
Risk Management Helps Districts
and Schools Run Smoothly
SDCOE’s Risk Management department inspects school playgrounds,
organizes contracts for pre-placement physicals for new employees, supports
Employee Assistance Service for Education, conducts required testing for bus
drivers, trains employees, holds retirement workshops, manages on-the-job
injuries, and creates year-end financial statements for member districts and
schools. Most of the team’s work is split between two independent agencies:
the Risk Management JPA, which supports six local educational agencies in
San Diego and Imperial counties, and the Fringe Benefits Consortium with
116 members in six California counties.
Impact At A Glance
4,535 credential applications processed by
Human Resource Services to support educators
$5 million grant awarded to SDCOE to
accelerate student literacy and learning
12,617 students and educators supported
with career pathways education through 270 work-based
learning activities with employer partners across all
15 industry sectors
323 pounds of food and nearly $700 in donations
collected by SDCOE employees to provide about 3,700
meals to families in need through the San Diego Food Bank
4,000 fluorescent lights with LEDs relamped
at SDCOE campuses, representing a savings of 82 kilo-
watt-hours per hour of operation
50 episodes of the Sum of It All podcast have had more
than 32,000 plays, connecting listeners to topics in math
education
54 educators graduated from the Administrative
Services Credential Program
7,977 backpacks with 340,000 individual supplies
provided to students experiencing homelessness through the
annual Stu the Bus campaign
Explore more at
www.sdcoe.net/annual-report
16
SAN DIEGO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
By the
Numbers
Enrollment
By District
Alpine Union Elementary 1,539
Bonsall Unified 2,209
Borrego Springs Unified 2,823
Cajon Valley Union 16,812
Cardi 631
Carlsbad Unified 11,027
Chula Vista Elementary 28,878
Coronado Unified 2,747
Dehesa 9,697
Del Mar Union 3,895
Encinitas Union 4,813
Escondido Union 17,224
Escondido Union High 9,458
Fallbrook Union Elementary 4,921
Fallbrook Union High 2,128
Grossmont Union High 22,094
Jamul-Dulzura Union Elementary 728
Julian Union Elementary 1,960
Julian Union High 96
La Mesa-Spring Valley 11,204
Lakeside Union 4,854
Lemon Grove 3,249
Mountain Empire Unified 4,042
National 4,820
Oceanside Unified 18,671
Poway Unified 35,192
Ramona City Unified 5,128
Rancho Santa Fe 589
San Diego County Oce of Education 7,071
San Diego Unified 114,467
San Dieguito Union High 12,704
San Marcos Unified 19,735
San Pasqual Union 499
San Ysidro Elementary 4,264
Santee 6,309
Solana Beach 2,820
South Bay Union 6,119
Spencer Valley 3,905
Sweetwater Union High 38,026
Vallecitos 178
Valley Center-Pauma Unified 3,826
Vista Unified 22,092
Warner Unified 2,510
Statewide benefit charter schools 5,148
*District totals include district-authorized charter
school enrollment
Source: 2021-22 California Department of Education DataQuest
@SanDiegoCOE
www.sdcoe.net
San Diego County Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Paul Gothold
San Diego County Board of Education
Paulette Donnellon
Guadalupe González
Alicia Muñoz
Gregg Robinson
Rick Shea
