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What is a County Office of Education?

County Superintendents operate intermediate service agencies providing direct and regional support to school districts and serve as the primary implementation arm of the California Department of Education (CDE).


Current responsibilities can be described in the following categories:

  • Educating specific student populations;

  • Monitoring and overseeing the student academic environment;

  • Monitoring and overseeing district fiscal stability;

  • Providing academic support and assistance;

  • Providing direct services to small school districts;

  • Reviewing school district Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAPs) and ensuring alignment of projected spending, services, and goals;

  • Providing technical assistance to school districts; and

  • Implementing regional support activities to assist district and school staff.

COE Roles

County offices of education serve important educational and functional roles within California’s public education system. Those roles have continued to grow, particularly with the expansion of the Statewide System of Support. Over the past ten years, the state has delegated greater responsibility to county offices relating to technical assistance and coordinating services provided to school districts and charter schools (“local
educational agencies” or “LEAs,” collectively).

Statutory Requirements

Many of these roles are required by state law.

● Educating students in juvenile court schools and county community schools
● Fiscal oversight of LEAs (AB1200)
● District LCAP review, approval, and related technical assistance
● Universal and differentiated assistance to LEAs with persistent achievement gaps
● Oversight of basic learning conditions (Williams)
● Review of school staff assignments and credentials
● Review of LEA audit findings
● Support of county boards of education functions
● Foster Youth Services
● Homeless Youth Services

Discretionary Services

Even more roles are discretionary. They have been created over time based on the local needs of LEAs and the county’s students. These include practical supports for LEAs, such as professional development, and fiscal and technology services.
They include state and federal programs.

● California Community Schools Partnership Program State & Regional Transformational Assistance Centers
● Career technical education
● Migrant Education
● SELPA
● Wellness centers, mental health services
● Medi-Cal billing
● Regional special education
● Head Start
● California State Preschool Program Teacher and administrator training
● Broadband access and information technology supports
● Curriculum development
● CalSTRS and CalPERS retirement reporting
● Support of unemployment insurance management system
● Regional technical assistance centers

County Offices serve "At-Promise" Students

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