Why SCOE Exists
The mission of the Sacramento County Office Education, a customer-driven educational leader and agent for change in the county, region and state, is to support the preparation of students for a changing and global 21st century society, through a continuously improving system of partnerships and coordinated services for our diverse community. We accomplish this in five ways:
1. Directly educating students
SCOE directly educates over 30,000 Sacramento County students. Programs operated by SCOE provide full- and part-time education to students in specialized programs that are more cost-effective to operate on a regional basis. Programs include:
- The Sacramento Regional Occupational Program providing school-to-work opportunities for high school and adult learners
- Programs for incarcerated youth in county institutions such as the B.T. Collins Juvenile Center, Boys Ranch, Morgan Alternative Center, and the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center
- Community school "storefront" class sites for "high risk" students who have been expelled from area schools or who have unique educational needs
- Special education classes for severely emotionally and physically handicapped infants, children, and young adults
- Sly Park Environmental Education Center located in the El Dorado National Forest for upper and elementary grade students
2. Providing fiscal oversight of school districts
Under AB 1200, SCOE has fiscal oversight of the 16 public school districts in Sacramento County. Budget approval and ongoing fiscal monitoring by SCOE staff ensure school district compliance with state fiscal guidelines and budgeting criteria. Regular monitoring of school district fiscal transactions by SCOE helps districts maintain fiscal integrity and comply with state fiscal requirments. In 1999-2000, school district budgets within Sacramento County included expenditures exceeding $1.4 billion.
3. Providing educational leadership and support to school districts
The Sacramento County Office of Education provides leadership and support to the county's school districts in high priority areas that lead to increased academic achievement for students. Through the Instructional Support Services Division, leadership is provided for countywide efforts in reading improvement; safe schools; drug, alcohol and pregnancy prevention; character education; new teacher support; and a myriad of other program areas. The Sacramento Reading Compact developed by SCOE has resulted in the receipt of $15 million to seven area school districts for the implementation of research-based reading programs.
4. Providing districts with economies of scale savings
Under the leadership of the Sacramento County Office of Education, school districts in Sacramento County, as well as those in the adjacent nine counties, are able to save millions of dollars through participation in regional cost-effective programs and services. Group purchasing, regional training programs, specialized student program offerings, regional business/community partnerships, and technology services are a few areas where SCOE has taken the lead to assist districts in realizing these savings.
5. Increasing educational resources
SCOE has been highly successful in securing grants and contracts to support and enhance education in Sacramento County. In 1999-2000, SCOE successfully competed for $35.4 million in grant funding. These resources have enabled SCOE and partnering school districts to address critical student needs and to develop improved educational programs for students. Unique partnerships with several federal agencies, the California Department of Education, the California State Board of Education, and private foundations, such as The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Annenberg and Getty Foundations, provide SCOE with increased opportunities to continue developing nationally recognized programs that address critical student needs.
